By JOHN SAKALA
Health Minister Jonas Chanda says Chawama Clinic in Chingola is burdened due to its large catchment area.
Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony for the upgrade of Chawama Clinic into a mini hospital today March 7, 2021, Dr Chanda said Chawama has a catchment of 60, 000 people making it the busiest clinic in Chingola.
He said the upgrade of the clinic into a mini hospital will improve health service delivery.
He said this will further help in decongesting Nchanga North General hospital.
He said Chawama Clinic is among the 115 mini hospitals that will be constructed countrywide by NMS Infrastructure Limited of the United Kingdom at a cost of US $300 million.
“The desire for government is to ensure that we provide universal access to health,” said Dr Chanda.
And Chingola Member of Parliament Matthew Nkhuwa said people of Chingola have been crying for the upgrade of Chawama Clinic for a long time.
Mr Nkhuwa said he has been lobbying for the upgrade of the clinic and he is now a happy parliamentarian because another promise has been realised.
He said the massive infrastructure developments that have been executed in Chingola is reflective of the number of total registered voters.
Mr Nkhuwa who is Energy Minister said Chingola Constituency is second to Ndola Central Constituency in terms of registered voters.
Copperbelt PF Chairperson Nathan Chanda said of the 115 mini hospitals of which five will be full hospitals, 16 have been allocated to Copperbelt.
Mr Chanda said of the 16, two will be fully fledged hospitals.
He reiterated that Chingola has benefited from infrastructure and he finds no reason why the people of Chingola can’t vote for PF and President Edgar Lungu.
He implored the contractor to employ local labour.
Meanwhile, Chingola Mayor Titus Tembo asked the minister of Health to also consider upgrading the Guy Scott clinic in Kapisha.
Mr Tembo said the Guy Scott clinic services Kapisha which is a densely populated area in Chingola.
And Chingola District Commissioner Agnes Tonga said Nchanga North General hospital needs a facelift.
The US $300 million is donor funded and NMS Infrastructure Limited has been given the mandate to execute the project.
NMS Infrastructure Limited Director of Business Development in Sub Sahara Africa Alistair Johnson promised to deliver quality hospitals within record time.
