Maravi

Levy calls for functional transport system in health sector

Levy calls for functional transport system in health sector
By Mwala Kalaluka and Nyambe Muyumbana in Mongu
Monday April 14, 2008 [04:00]

PRESIDENT Levy Mwanawasa has partly blamed Zambia's high maternal mortality ratio on the failure to adequately address the transport needs of most health institutions. And President Mwanawasa has said Litunga Lubosi Imwiko will be among the first nine traditional leaders in the Western Province that will benefit from a government supported car loan facility.

Meanwhile, President Mwanawasa has said the delays in completing the Shangombo District Hospital project were regrettable.

In a speech read on his behalf by defence minister George Mpombo during the hand over of 17 Land Cruisers and 38 motorbikes to the Ministry of Health in the Western Province yesterday, President Mwanawasa said even though still abound in the government's efforts to address such challenges, the health sector had recorded positive strides.

"It is my hope that the provision of these vehicles shall significantly contribute towards the safeguarding of the lives of both the Zambian mother and her child," President Mwanawasa said.

"Today's hand over of these vehicles to the Western Province is part of an on-going exercise as each of our 72 districts shall eventually receive these vehicles whose total cost is estimated to be K25 billion."

He said for the government to realise its vision to provide Zambians with quality health services, there was need to address the demands that go with a functional transport system in the health sector.

"These vehicles will significantly strengthen emergency obstetric care in particular, and will also help meet the requirement of emergency health care in general," President Mwanawasa said. "It is our aim that these vehicles shall eventually be used as utility vehicles as well as ambulances."

President Mwanawasa said the strengthening of the health transport system augured very well with the recent introduction of the direct entry midwifery training.

"An increase in the number of midwives coupled with the availability of ambulances should surely impact positively on the nation's provision of maternal and health services," he said.

And President Mwanawasa said in a speech read for him by Mpombo at the Litunga's Palace in Limulunga yesterday that the vehicle loan facility would ultimately enable traditional leaders to be mobile and allow them monitor development programmes in their areas.

"All these things are being done to improve the status and welfare of our chief," he said. President Mwanawasa said the government was committed to ameliorating the difficulties that over 285 families faced because of a hunger situation due to floods experienced in the province.

"By the end of March 2008, a total of 3, 238 metric tones of maize were distributed," he said.
President Mwanawasa assured that no one would die from flood-induced starvation in the province.
He also said the government was committed to addressing the poor road network scenario in the province and that funds had also been disbursed towards the construction of housing units in the province.

Meanwhile, President Mwanawasa said the government had released K1.7 billion to the Ministry of Health to find another contractor on the Shangombo Hospital project following the failure by Tomorrow Investments to complete the project.

He also revealed that 59 development projects amounting to over K26 billion had been initiated in the province's health sector, among other projects.

On the Kuomboka Ceremony, President Mwanawasa said he had directed community development and social services minister Catherine Namugala to make the cultural sector visible through focusing on the development of infrastructure at places where traditional events take place.

"The Kuomboka traditional ceremony indeed, is a custodian of oral and intangible heritage," said President Mwanawasa.

Labels: HEALTHCARE, MWANAWASA, TRANSPORT

posted by MrK @ 4:43 AM