CHILUFYA

By PERPETUAL SICHIKWENKWE-
THE European Union (EU) in partnership with Government has released K924,000 for infrastructure expansion and upgrading of Kelene Nursing School in North Western province.
The money that would be dispatched to the school in the course of this week would go towards expansion of classrooms, hostels and purchasing of learning materials to increase on the number of health personnel in the country.
Health Deputy Minister, Chitalu Chilufya disclosed at the weekend that an additional K380, 000 would be released by Government later in the year for the upgrading of the library facilities at the learning school.
Dr Chilufya is in North western Province for a five-day tour to check on health service delivery, human resources, availability of drugs and infrastructure development in the health sector.
He said this when he paid a courtesy call on Ikelenge district commissioner, Rodness Ndumba’s after visiting Kalene Nursing School and Kalene Mission School that the increase in the number of nurses would enhance health service delivery country.
Dr Chilufya said the  nursing school was one of the learning institutions that would help increase the number of health personnel countrywide.
Dr Chilufya said another K500,000 would be released by Government for the upgrading of a kitchen and construction of an isolation ward at Kalene Mission Hospital.
He said Government cherished the partnership that it enjoyed with the church in providing quality health services to the people.
Dr Chilufya said Government would in two weeks time send two radiographers to the mission hospital to close the gap of human resources in the department.
Dr Chilufya said it was Government’s desire to ensure that if it failed to prevent diseases, then it must should have the capacity to treat them.
He also disclosed that the first  district Government district hospital would be constructed in Ikelenge to de-congest Kalene Mission Hospital and improve health service delivery to the people of the district.
Dr Chilufya said the tendering process of a contractor for the building of the hospital had already been closed adding that a contractor would be identified within the period of three months.
Kalene Mission Hospital administrator, Alice Turner said the hospital was happy with the help rendered by Government and other partners that was aimed at improving service delivery.