Build hospital in Chifunabuli – Lungu
President Lungu directed the Minister of Health, Dr Chilufya Chitalu to expedite the process of building the district hospital between Chifunabuli and Kasaba area to meet the people's health needs.
Mr Lungu made the directive at a public rally at Mwewa Secondary School yesterday in Chifunabuli, Luapula Province where he went to drum up support for the PF council chairperson candidate, Mr Innocent Kapwepwe.
“Minister (Dr Chilufya), we need a district hospital here. I want you to find a central place between Chifunabuli and Kasaba where you should build a district hospital.
“In short, I am directing you as Minister of Health to look at the resources that we have countrywide and bring a hospital here so that the people here have access to quality health facilities," President Lungu directed Dr Chilufya.
Meanwhile, President Lungu thanked the people of Chifunabuli for conducting peaceful campaigns and called on them to vote for Mr Kapwepwe if they are to see meaningful development in the area.
Mr Lungu also advised politicians not to visit the people only during campaigns but take regular visits to appreciate people's challenges. He also advised elected leaders to humble themselves before the electorate because power comes from the people. In responding to the presidential directive, Dr Chilufya assured people of Chifunabuli that he would within two weeks send the contractors to start preparatory works for the construction of the district hospital. Dr Chilufya, who is PF Mansa Central Member of Parliament added that his ministry would also take an ambulance to the district soon.
Dr Chilufya told the cheering crowd that the Government under President Lungu was committed to the universal health coverage agenda, Leaving No one Behind. At the same rally, General Education Minister David Mabumba disclosed that his ministry would upgrade Mwewa Secondary School to a boarding school. Later, President Lungu met four traditional leaders led by Senior Chief Mwewa at Lubwe Mission Hospital. These are chiefs Mwansabombwe, Chitembo and Mulongwe.
Speaking on behalf of other chiefs in the district, Senior Chief Mwewa thanked President Lungu for declaring Chifunabuli a district, saying this would spur development in the area.
President Lungu meanwhile appealed to the traditional leaders to help the government in resolving succession wrangles, saying he was saddened by the continued succession wrangles involving Chief Mbulu spanning over 15 years.
The President was accompanied to Luapula Province by Presidential Affairs Minister Freedom Sikazwe, Housing and Infrastructure Development Minister Ronald Chitotela, Dr Chilufya and Mr Mabumba.