Fri, 24 Mar 2017 14:01:44 +0000
By TAWANDA MUNYUKI
THE delay to open Linda clinic has raised concern among residents in the area who fear that the health centre may be destroyed through vandalism.
The residents said that the clinic was completed a long time ago but was still not operational for reasons not known.
Catherine Nsokolo, a resident in the area, complained that when the clinic was being constructed it brought joy to the people who were excited to have a clinic.
Ms. Nsokolo said it was unfortunate that the clinic had not been operational despite being completed a long time ago.
She said that some unruly people have started vandalizing the property.
“As residents of Linda we are concerned that the clinic that was meant to benefit us is just dormant and we are still forced to walk long distances to access health services.
“So we are appealing to the Ministry of Health to ensure that they operationalize the clinic so that residents are able to access health care in the area,’’ she said.
And Edgar Mwansa, another resident, complained that the clinic has been dormant for a long time despite bein completed. Mr. Mwansa said that people have started vandalizing the clinic because it has been dormant for too long.
“By the time they will be opening the clinic it will just be a skeleton because it would have been destroyed by then and so to avoid that, it is important that it is made operational in good time,’’ he said.
But Kanyama area Member of Parliament Elizabeth Phiri said that the clinic has not been functional because there were no health personnel to man the center.
Ms. Phiri said that apart from that the clinic also lacked medical equipment which have to be put in place before it was finally opened.
“We are just waiting to hear from the Ministry of Health to give us some health workers; as you know we cannot open a clinic without staff,” she said.
