By Isaac Zulu
Kapiri Mposhi Member of Parliament Stanley Kakubo says government is resolved to increasing access to health care for rural communities through the construction of health facilities using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
Kakubo says the resolve is in line with President Hakainde Hichilema’s directive to reduce distances that people in rural areas endure to access health care due to lack of health facilities in their communities.
The member of parliament, who is also Foreign Affairs Minister, said this when he commissioned Kapisu rural health post, built at the cost of K 762,000 using the 2022 CDF.
The Kapiri Mposhi lawmaker disclosed that more similar health facilities have been approved and earmarked for construction in unserved rural communities of the district.
“This is life changing for the people here in Kapisu and we want to do many more of these projects. And there are many more that we have done and we will be commissioning. This is a demonstration of what CDF cando,” explained Kakubo. “So the President was right in moving money from Lusaka, devolving that funding right down to districts and this is what it is able to achieve. The health facility comes complete with a maternity wing, staff accommodation and water.”
And Kapiri Mposhi District Director of Health, Katherine Kalumba disclosed that the clinic will serve over 3,000 people with various health services.
Dr. Kalumba added that two health workers have already been deployed to the health facility which will curtail the long distances people used to walk to access health services at Kapiri Mposhi District Hospital or Nkole Rural Health Centre.
She stated that the clinic will help in actualizing government’s policy of providing a health facility every 15 Kilometers in the district.
“The residents used to cover over 20 kilometers to access health services. This is against Ministry of Health plans of establishing a health facility every after 15 Kilometers. Indeed CDF is a game changer. And this will now be a thing of the past,” said Dr Kalumba.
Meanwhile, Chief Nkole of the Swaka-Lala speaking people in Kapiri Mposhi District has commended the government for fulfilling most of the promises it made to the people in the District.
Speaking through Nkole Chiefdom Royal Establishment Chairperson, Anold Chisembe, chief Nkole explained that his subjects in Kapisu area had
challenges in accessing health care, with expectant mothers usually giving birth enroute to Kapiri Mposhi District Hospital.
“Continue working like this. As a traditional leader, I’m happy that you are working to deliver on your development promises in Kapiri Mposhi. My subjects in Kapisu have suffered a lot due to lack of a
clinic,” said Chief Nkole.
