. Dr Scott

By CHUSA SICHONE in Ikelenge –
ACTING President Guy Scott says Government will not be deterred from performing its duties owing to the forthcoming presidential election.
Dr Scott said Government had to continue working despite the passing of President Michael Sata and the forthcoming polls.
He was speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony and laying of the foundation stone for the construction of Ikelenge District Hospital in North-Western Province yesterday.
“I just want to say a few words that Government doesn’t stop working even though we have an election, when we have a bereavement, life has to continue. So we have come to continue with the work of establishing this hospital,” he said.
Addressing Patriotic Front (PF) supporters in Mwinilunga earlier, Dr Scott said he had done his part to ensure that the ruling party bounces back into power after the January 20, 2015 and that people were able to see the various developmental projects Government was still implementing.
Health Deputy Minister Chitalu Chilufya said the construction of Ikelenge District Hospital will cost K12.9 million and the contractor Asesco is expected to complete the works within 13 months.
Dr Chilufya said once complete, the Ikelenge District Hospital would reduce the distances that people in the area cover to access health services, saying currently most people in the district walk about 12 kilometers to Kaleni Mission Hospital.
Dr Chilufya said the Government had a comprehensive national health policy whose objective was to have a healthy and productive population and embraced equity as the fundamental principal in its quest for health for all.
“We decided in the name of equity of distribution of infrastructure, equity of distribution for development that we will create a new hospital in Ikelenge. Because of what we are going to do here today, we are going to see a situation where our mothers, our pregnant mothers will not have to walk long distances to access health services,” he said.
He reiterated that bringing health services closer to the people was in line with President Sata’s vision, which Dr Scott had continued and that legacy would be protected and perpetuated by PF presidential candidate Edgar Lungu once elected Republican President.
Local Government and Housing Minister Emmanuel Chenda said his Ministry did not want to be left behind in the developmental agenda as it was constructing a new Boma and houses in Ikelenge District.
“The good news is that we have now found the money for these developmental works to take place here in Ikelenge. All I can say now is that please remember on the 20th (of January) to vote for our candidate Edgar Chagwa Lungu. This will guarantee continuity of this foundation stone we are laying today as well as other projects,” he said