By STANSLOUS NGOSA –

in Mpika
GOVERNMENT has started the process of expanding Nabwalya Health Centre in Chief Nabwalya of the Bisa people of Mpika District in Muchinga Province to provide quality health care services closer to the people.
The Ministry of Health has also delivered an ambulance to the health centre in a quest to strengthen the patient referral system.
Chief Nabwalya, however, bemoaned the inadequate staffing levels because the health centre was being manned by one qualified midwife Anthony Mwandu.
Health Deputy Minister Chitalu Chilufya announced on Wednesday when he handed over an ambulance to the health centre that the expansion of the health centre was aimed at providing quality health care close to the people.
“We want to turn this health centre into a zonal health facility, which will have a surgery, a maternity annex and theater,” Dr Chilufya said.
He said the project was at procurement level and construction would start before the end of this year.
Dr Chilufya said the Government would send a medical licentiate who would attend to various operations.
He said the ministry would continue building sufficient capacity at the health center, which was in line with the Patriotic Front manifesto, and subsequently reduce the disease burden.
Dr Chilufya said the Government wanted to reduce deaths resulting from preventable diseases such as maternal health.
The Health deputy minister was in the Northern, Muchinga, and Luapula provinces to inspect and commission health projects.
When handing over the ambulance to Chief Nabwalya at his palace, Dr Chilufya said the Government wanted to reduce response time by providing basic health care support to the chiefdom because it was an integral part of the country despite its geographical location.
Chief Nabwalya is located 260 kilometers from the Mpika-Serenje Road turn off into the Muchinga valley via the escarpment and crossing more than 50 streams.
The traditional leader, who expressed happiness over the development, however, bemoaned the low staffing, where one officer managed a population of more than 13, 000.
Chief Nabwalya said the Government’s passion to develop the health sector was testimony that the State had respect for humanity.
He called on the Government to open the 42 health posts that were not operational in the area, as doing so would decongest the only operating health center at Chief Nabwalya.
Chief Nabwalya said there was need to connect Nabwalya Health Centre to a proper solar power system or the national grid so that the health facility could serve the public better.
He also urged the Government deploy police officers to the area because there were none despite the community having built a Police post.
The traditional ruler was also concerned about the cultivation of marijuana in the area and asked the Drug Enforcement Commission to comb the area.