Peace Corps donate medical equipment
PEACE Corps, in cooperation with Amaka Yandi Emaka Yobe Foundation, has donated medical equipment worth K77, 950 to Kabwe District Health Office.
The equipment include an ultra sound machine, oxygen cylinder, suction machine and autoclaves.
Speaking during the handover at the weekend, Peace Corps response volunteer, Tieisha Walters said the equipment would play a major role in reducing the high levels of maternal and neonatal deaths in the district and the province at large.
Ms Walter who is a member of the newly launched Amaka Foundation said the equipment would provide appropriate care to expectant mothers to ensure safe pregnant and delivery and subsequently reduce maternal and neonatal deaths.
“The ultrasound machine will ensure safe pregnant and delivery by providing appropriate care. The oxygen cylinder will give oxygen to expectant mothers under stress. This will in turn reduce maternal and neonatal deaths which are currently high in the district and the province,” said Ms Walter.
Receiving the donation, Kabwe Mayor, Prince Chileshe said the donation was not only important to Kabwe district but the province which currently had only one ultrasound machine.
Mr Chileshe said maternal deaths had reached an alarming levels in the district, a situation that could be avoided with the right equipment in place such as the ones donated.
He said clinics in the district were unable to handle complicated pregnancy cases and ended up referring such cases to Kabwe Central Hospital due to lack of ideal equipment.
“Central Province is among other provinces in Zambia the highest maternal and neonatal deaths but with such equipment in place, these deaths would be avoided,” said Mr Chileshe.
Mr Chileshe commended Peace Corps and Amaka Yandi Emaka Yobe for the donation and pledged his support to the foundation in carrying out its duties aimed at reducing maternal and neonatal deaths in the district.