DELAYS TO OPEN MATERNITY WARD SADDENS LUSAMBO
Mary walya, 43, testified that on March 17 around 15 hours, she was going to collect
by the accused’s house and found he had just finished beating his son.
Ms walya said the child was badly beaten which angered her prompting her question neighbours why they never intervened whenever he was beating the child.
She said she was told that Sokoni would insult anyone who would tried to stop him from beating his son so were all scared.
She said she took the child to the police and reported the incident at Mulenga police post and accused was later apprehended. And the accused’s mother Martha Chanda, 60, said she was informed that her son was arrested for beating up his son with a cable and had sustained wounds on the back and nose. In mitigation Sokoni pleaded for forgiveness that he had learnt a lesson and that none of his relatives helped him to look after the child after his wife died when the boy was only three months old. Magistrate Nkonde said she had heard Sokoni’s mitigation but that assaulting a child was a serious offence, as children were defenseless. She said the child was seriously abused as shown by the scars in his body and sentenced Sokoni to five years imprisonment with hard labour.
KABUSHI Member of Parliament Bowman Lusambo has given the district health office in Ndola one month to open the maternity ward at Kabushi Clinic.
Mr Lusambo gave the ultimatum when he toured the clinic on Friday afternoon.
He noted that works on the maternity ward were completed three years ago and wondered why the facility was still closed to the public.
He said he would find private engineers to inspect the building and establish if it was fit as indicated in the bill of quantities.
The Kabushi lawmaker also disclosed that the clinic would be upgraded into a mini hospital. He noted that out of the 34 health facilities in the district, only nine were offering antenatal services.
Meanwhile district health director Christopher Dube said he had spoken to the constructor who said he was out buying materials and would be back on site after the long holiday. Dr Dube said the maternity ward had not being opened due to plumbing issues, wiring and floor works.
He also noted that the call by residents to have the clinic open 24 hours was not possible at the moment because of shortage of staff. Dr Dube noted said for the facility to be operational 24 hours, there was need for three security guards to protect the premises as well as more staff. He assured the residents that government would provide the necessary equipment needed at the clinic. And Kabushi Clinic sister in charge Rita Munyu acknowledged the clinic was facing a number of challenges that needed urgent attention.
Ms Munyu told Mr Lusambo that the facility also lacked small instruments such as thermometers, standing scales and blood pressure machines, among other things.
She said the clinic had a catchment area of 3,600 people, saying the number was too big for a clinic was not operating 24 hours.