. Munkombwe

By BRIAN HATYOKA in CHOMA –

SOUTHERN Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe has said the newly refurbished Choma General Hospital will ease the work of staff at the institution in the delivery of quality healthcare.

Mr Munkombwe was speaking in Choma yesterday when Airtel Zambia donated 50 blankets, five modems and refurbished beds and screening rooms for doctors at Choma General Hospital at a cost of K30, 000.

He said the Patriotic Front (PF) Government had done a lot to promote development in Choma since the town was realigned as the new provincial headquarters for Southern Province and cited the completion of the general hospital as one of the projects done by the administration.

“If you are honest and if you have eyes to see, you will appreciate what the PF Government has done to this country,” Mr Munkombwe said.

He said the donation would ease the work of nurses and other medical staff whose profession was a calling as they were expected to service patients completely and effectively.

Hindu Samaj of Zambia representative Ramesh Patel also donated 40 boxes of baby kits to the Hospital during the same gathering.

Mr Munkombwe said there was no loss or damage to business when companies plough back their resources to the community where they were operating but that unfortunately some multinational companies were not forthcoming.

“But I am very happy that Airtel Zambia, which is one of the multinational companies operating in Zambia, has decided to plough back to the community in this manner,” Mr Munkombwe said.

Speaking earlier, Choma General Hospital acting medical superintendent Stephen Chanda said the donation would go a long way to improve the provision of quality healthcare to patients.

Dr Chanda said since Choma was declared as Southern Province capital, the population of people seeking medical services at the hospital in the area had increased.

“As a Hospital, we are alive to this challenge. However, we are constrained with resources and hence we appreciate any help through our cooperating partners like Airtel, business houses and the community at large,” he said.

Airtel Zambia Southern Zonal business manager Francis Simfukwe said the donation was part of the company’s Corporate Social responsibility (CSR) programmes to support the communities where it was operating.

Mr Simfukwe said the donation affirmed the entity’s commitment to work with the Government in various developmental projects across the country.

“We have in the recent past refurbished hospitals, donated medical equipment as well as made blood donations through our CSR mandate. We have also supported education through school refurbishments and donations of computers, desks and other learning materials,” Mr Simfukwe said.