Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Health Minister Dr. Joseph Kasonde
Government has reiterated its promise to provide equitable cost effective quality healthcare as closer to the people as possible.
Speaking when he met a visiting Chinese delegation which is in the country to undertake a design survey for the expansion of Levy Mwanawasa General Hospital phase two in Lusaka today, Health Minister Joseph Kasonde says the design phase of the hospital entails turning the hospital into a fully fledged specialized health facility with a bed capacity of between 800 to 1000 beds.
Dr. Kasonde says Zambia remains indebted to China for phase one of Levy Mwanawasa General Hospital with a bed capacity of 120 which was constructed with a grant in excess of USD $8 million from the Chinese government.
He adds that it is more gratifying that the Levy Mwanawasa General Hospital project does not only involve the infrastructural works but also includes the provision of modern high-tech medical equipment for the hospital.
Dr. Kasonde says before the hospital was constructed, one of the major challenges in the delivery of health care services in Lusaka was the inadequacy of primary health and secondary health facilities which resulted in massive congestion at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH).
He further states that government is pleased with the support from the Chinese government as it is aware that the provision of quality healthcare services to the people will ensure that the country has a healthy and productive population which will in turn lead to a productive economy.