Maravi

Rupiah can save money from his travels to improve healthcare – HH

Rupiah can save money from his travels to improve healthcare – HH
By Masuzyo Chakwe
Thu 18 Mar. 2010, 04:20 CAT

President Rupiah Banda waving to MMD members before departing on a ZAF plane

UPND president Hakainde Hichilema has said President Rupiah Banda can save the money he uses on travelling and holidaying to improve the health service delivery system in the country.

Speaking after he and other party officials visited All People’s Congress (APC) president Ken Ngondo, senior chief Silaunga from Mwinilunga, chief Chiunda Ponde from Mpika, Chifubu member of parliament Benson Bwalya and commissioner of prisons Gibbie Nawa who are currently admitted to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH), Hichilema wished all the patients a quick recovery.

However, Hichilema said the patients could do much better if the health delivery system was good.

“I think you heard one of the members of parliament saying that to get one test done, it takes so long so in that period we could lose a life and this is why we really need to invest in the healthcare system but to do that we need to have priorities,” Hichilema said.

“If we are investing money in travelling everyday, in holidaying everyday, going to Addis Ababa, Uganda, China 10 days, Malawi, Emirates and now the next we don’t know, all we know is that somebody will be in the air in another few days, we can save that money and allocate it into many areas including the hospitals so that our patients can be attended to quickly and medicines can be made available on time. That is extremely important. Otherwise we wish the patients including many others who we were not able to see the best and quick recovery and God’s guidance.”

Hichilema said it was important for every person to find time to attend to many issues, including sick members of society.

“The important thing is that we must all find time to do what I call ordinary and to do what is normal to attend to many things including attending to the sick, our members of society who are not well. As you know we were seeing president Ngondo, senior chief Sialunga, another chief and obviously the head of prisons, and we became aware of their situation, their illness not so long ago. So we thought we should use this time to see how they are getting on and we pray to God that they will feel better,” he said.

And Ngondo, who is suffering from pneumonia and is admitted to the hospital’s intensive care unit, said he was taken to the hospital on Sunday by his wife.

He said he had received good attention from the hospital.

“My wife brought me here and we have done some tests, they gave me antibiotics and if people visit you, you get healed,” Ngondo said.

Ngondo said he was much better and would soon be out of the hospital.
Hichilema wished him a quick recovery and told him Ngondo that he was needed more on the outside.

He said he was grateful for all the positive statements Ngondo had made. Hichilema said Ngondo’s illness was a passing phase. Hichilema then visited the two chiefs who were also admitted to the ICU.

He later visited Nawa and Bwalya who complained that it took long to get results after the tests were done. The members of parliament that accompanied Hichilema included Mazabuka Central’s Garry Nkombo and Siavonga’s Douglas Syakalima

Other party officials include UPND vice president Francis Simenda, former Chilanga member of parliament Colonel Cosmas Moono and other party officials.

Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 3:11 PM