Denis Opudo
Despite the fact that the Copper belt region is rich in natural minerals, the health facilities are not in good standards. The Copperbelt province residence has something to give them hope as far as the health sector is concerned. A multi-million Cancer Disease Hospital will be constructed in the region by 2018. The project is expected to cost around $25 million.
It’s not only the Cancer Disease Hospital that the government is looking forward to putting up in the region, but there are two health facilities to be constructed in Kitwe region. According to Copperbelt Permanent Secretary Elias Kamanga, they are engaging with the Kitwe City Council and the Provincial Health Office in looking for land to site the project given the fact that the funds for the construction are already available. A special hospital that will cater for Cardiovascular, Renal and other specific health problems will also be constructed in the region.
The region residence will benefit from the two projects which will help them in an easier acquisition of medical attention rather than going all the way to Lusaka which is the only place with cancer disease hospital in Zambia.
Following the upgrade of Ndola and Kitwe Teaching Hospitals to University Teaching Hospitals, the hospitals have received many referrals from many hospitals across various provinces within the country, and that gives the real picture of the country’s health facilities situations.
The construction of the two hospitals will relieve the University Teaching Hospital from a large number of patients that it receives. There are also two other health posts to be constructed in Luanshya which will have two staff houses on each post. It now the mandate of the District Administration in Luanshya to give the location of the two posts.
