By STANSLOUS NGOSA in Mansa –
THE Government has started implementing the water reticulation projects in urban and peri-urban areas in Mansa at cost of US$10.3 million under Luapula Water and Sewerage Company Elbadia project.
Mansa Central Member of Parliament Chitalu Chilufya said the project was aimed at providing clean water.
Dr Chilufya said after inspecting the rehabilitation project in Musenga Site and Service that contractor Unik Construction Engineering Zambia Limited had already moved on site to start laying pipes.
Among areas, were reticulation was being implemented, included Isonga, Manda, Kapesha and Namwandwe.
Dr Chilufya also inspected township roads being worked on by China Henan in partnership with local contractor Lawrence Harry Zambia Limited under the 20 per cent sub contracting arrangement.
He, however, urged the contractor to expedite the works as he was not impressed at the slow pace at which works were being carried out.
But Lawrence Harry Zambia Limited chief executive officer Lawrence Chitika said the financial designs delayed the commencement of the project.
Mr Chitika, however, said the company would beat the project time frame as it had already moved on site.
He said the project had created at least 800 jobs for the local people.
Meanwhile, Dr Chilufya is saddened that Mansa General Hospital has continued to be notorious for drug stock outs despite Medical Stores Limited being overwhelmed by medical supplies.
Dr Chilufya has since directed health institutions to stop issuing prescriptions for essential drugs because the country has enough drugs.
The deputy health minister has also called for a meeting with the officials from the Medical Stores Limited on Tuesday in an effort to enhance drug procurement and distribution.
Dr Chilufya said it was depressing that the health institution was using 50 per cent of its funding to buy drugs instead of food and on other operations, yet the Medical Stores Limited had adequate medical supplies.
The deputy minister said he had received several complaints from the public on shortage of medical supplies like gloves and confirmed it when he checked on the drug stocks at the health institution on Saturday.
He said it wrong for hospitals to use money meant patients’ food and operations, to buy medical supplies when they could order from Medical Stores Limited, which was currently overwhelmed with drugs.
He said the Mansa drug situation was similar to Mongu and Mafinga.