Shangula inaugrates Kaenda Health Centre

By Elezo Libanda

KATIMA MULILO, APRIL 2 – The newly constructed Kaenda Health Centre was inaugurated today by Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Kalumbi Shangula. Speaking at a colourful event, Shangula reiterated that the government’s aim was to bring services to the people and ensure that all communities have access to health and social welfare services.

He urged the local councillor to encourage the community to to utilize the health centre, which is equipped with a mortuary, staff accommodation and an incinerator, all of which have been operational since last year. The Minster further cautioned staff from his ministry against ill-treatment of patients, as many times the negative attitude of health professionals had come into the spotlight.

“The attitude and behaviour of some health workers is worrisome because they don’t display courtesy, patience, empathy and human dignity.” He reminded his staff that they were obliged to follow the Ministry’s charter, adding that insubordination would not be tolerated.

Speaking on the side-lines of the event a resident of Kaenda village, Solvent Muleke, thanked government for bringing the services closer to the people, pointing out that it had been difficult for most people in the area since the nearest health centre is 28 kilometers from Kaenda.

“We have many people whose lives could have been saved! Imagine traveling from here to Sibbinda Health Center, and at times when you reach there, you are informed that the nurse is on leave. Some patients have been defaulting on medication like ARVs because it wasn’t easy to walk from here to Kasheshe clinic or Sibbinda health center – but now we are sorted,” Muleke added.
Chairperson of Zambezi Regional Council and acting governor of Zambezi, Honourable Beaven Munali urged the Kaenda community to utilize the health centre, and called upon residents not to desist from vandalism as the centre is now their property.

“With the financial crisis we find ourselves in, it wasn’t easy to construct this center, but because we value human life more than anything else, we have to prioritize and us with the Ministry of health decided to construct this health centre… I urge you to jealously guard this property.”