Maravi

FQML to open $1.3m clinic in Solwezi

FQML to open $1.3m clinic in Solwezi
By David Chongo in Solwezi
Sun 28 Mar. 2010, 04:01 CAT

FIRST Quantum Minerals Limited (FQML), the owner of Kansanshi mine in Solwezi is next month set to officially open its newly-built $1.3 million clinic to be operated by a contractor – Crusaders.

FQML health team coordinator Anna Pascall revealed that the mining giant had also earmarked Solwezi General Hospital for major infrastructural redesign in readiness for refurbishment that would bring the district health institution to modern standards.

Pascall has said Crusaders clinic, with a state-of-of-the-art digital X-ray machine with capacity to reduce impact of radiation by 25 per cent, would be operational in six weeks time.

“Solwezi general hospital needs refurbishment; it’s not in good shape. There is need for rehabilitation and refurbishment. We want to bring it to modern standards of health care provision. We are not creating two different islands; we are only helping to develop capacity,” said Pascall.

Meanwhile Kansanshi Mine public relations manager Godfrey M’siska has refuted reports circulating among miners at First Quantum Minerals Operations (FQMO) mining division that they would forcibly be enrolled to the new health scheme under Crusaders, an international health care provider, which had been contracted by Kansanshi to operate their new clinic.

He said only Kansanshi workers would be compulsorily shifted to the new scheme from Hilltop Hospital where the mine’s contract with the private health center would be terminated in view of the completion of their new facility while miners at FQMO would have an option to join the Crusaders clinic.

M’siska said no FQMO miner would be compelled to join Crusaders noting that even at Hilltop, only Kansanshi had a compulsory scheme while FQMO had an option.

He assured that the clinic, with a 10-bed capacity and a maternity section, was not exhaustive of the facility but could be increased to double the intake depending on the need and that there were subjective plans for more wards within the premises in an event of unexpected surge in admissions.

He was responding to a press query regarding complaints from some miners to The Post in Solwezi that they were being forced to subscribe to the “small” clinic for a combined workforce of more than 6, 000 with families alleging also that Crusaders was already preparing medical cards without consulting them.

But M’siska disputed the reports saying the newly built facility was initially meant for 1, 200 Kansanshi miners where a further 1, 400 from FQMO could join on option basis.

Labels: FQML, HEALTHCARE

posted by MrK @ 4:03 PM