By Isaac Zulu
Kapiri Mposhi council chairman Brilliant Munyeke has warned health workers against pilfering drugs from health centres to sell to individuals operating drugs stores.
And Munyeke bemoaned the law staffing levels in health centres where patients have to wait in long queues before they could access medical services.
Speaking after touring some selected health centres in Kapiri Central, Kashitu and Munshimbili wards, Munyeke warned health workers against pilfering drugs from health facilities.
“We are not going to condone health workers taking drugs from health centres to go and sell to private individuals operating drug stores; as doing so would be compromising the UPND government’s desire to provide quality health care. Please desist from such temptations,” said Munyeke.
He further observed that low staffing levels is still a challenge in most clinics in Kapiri Mposhi district, pointing out that the prevailing situation needs urgent attention, so that patients do not have to wait for a long time in queues in order for them to access health services.
Munyeke explained that keeping patients waiting in queues for a long time has been making health facilities crowded, which he said is putting patients at risk of contracting the coronavirus.
“As you know, we are in the COVID-19 era… and we cannot allow a situation where patients have to wait in queues before they can be attended to by health staff. This issue of inadequate health staff is of concern to us. And as such, needs urgent attention,” said Munyeke.
He however expressed optimism that with the impending recruitment of health workers pronounced by the UPND government, the challenge of low staffing levels will be adequately addressed.
“As you are aware, the issue of provision of quality health care is very dear to President Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND government. So the issue of inadequate health personnel will soon be a thing of the past because the new dawn government is in the process of recruiting 30,000 (over 11,000) health workers to be deployed to all parts of the country,” said Munyeke.
