Mweetwa calls for completion of theatre at…

Acting Minister of Health, Cornelius Mweetwa, has called for the quick completion of a medical operation theatre at Request Muntanga Level One Hospital in Kalomo District of Southern Province to cut down on patient referrals to other towns. Mr Mweetwa said this when he visited the hospital today after receiving a report on operational challenges from the Hospital In-charge, Benson Vomo, who cited lack of an operation theatre at the institution resulting in the health facility referring patients that need specialised services to either Choma or Livingstone hospitals. Meanwhile, Mr Mweetwa, who is also Minister of Information and Media and Chief Government Spokesperson, expressed happiness with the availability of essential drug stocks at the hospital which stands at 90 per cent.

And, Dr Vomo also has lamented over the inadequate transport at the institution, saying the health facility has no reliable ambulance and utility vehicle despite having a reliable workforce of 140 personnel. Ministry of Health Assistant Director for Infrastructure, Muyambango Mungole, has indicated that the Request Muntanga Hospital is an on-going government project with phase one already complete, while phase two which consists of the theatre and other wings are still on contract status. He adds that the government has also planned for the Phase three of the hospital for it to be a fully-fledged level one health facility. The Acting Minister of Health is on a fact finding tour of selected health facilities in Southern Province.