By ALICE NACHILEMBE
Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) has rehabilitated Out-Patient Department (OPD) at Nchanga South hospital at a cost of K5.3 million to enhance quality health care.
The wing has been refurbished and modernized by upgrading the Pharmacy, emergency and records rooms and creation of the brought in dead (BID) room which has not been in existence.
Speaking today during the re-commissioning of the OPD at Nchanga South hospital, KCM Provisional Liquidator Celine Nair said Nchanga South hospital plays a key role in the provision of health care not only to KCM, but the whole Chingola and surrounding communities.
Ms Nair said the demand for health services at South hospital is high hence the firm’s commitment to supplement government’s effort in its quest to achieve quality health care for all.
She said last year the hospital recorded over 14,500 general attendances and almost 2,940 specialist attendances.
Ms Nair said in view of the high numbers of people accessing the facility, it was imperative for KCM to start phase one of hospital rehabilitations with Out-Patient Department because it is the interface for most clients.
She said the drive to undertake such projects emanates from the care they have for their employees and the communities they operate from and phase two of the rehabilitation is coming.
“We have made some strides in the health sector especially among the private run health facilities, last year we launched the first private run PCR laboratory on the Copperbelt at Konkola Mine Hospital a vital component in the fight against deadly diseases such as Covid-19,” she said.
Ms Nair also said that the Roll back Malaria program which was launched some years back has continued and this year KCM has set aside $108,000 for the Malaria fight.
She said the exercise for malaria fight includes the sparaying of over 44,000 households in Chingola, Chililabombwe and Nampundwe between October and November, in partnership with Ministry of Health.
Ms Nair said KCM seeks to provide a safe work environment for its employees and supplement government effort.
She has thanked Management, South Hospital workers and everyone for putting effort in the project to be successful.
And KCM Acting Chief Executive Officer Enock Mponda said he was happy that state of the art fittings have been installed which was a huge millstone for the hospital.
Mr Mponda said that management will support the hospital administration in every way possible to achieve their goal.
