State saluted over improved primary health care

GOVERNMENT has been commended for improving primary healthcare from 52 percent in 2011 to over 84 percent in 2019, across the country.

Medical for Quality Healthcare in Zambia (MQHZ) Director General Dr Quince Mwabu said that statistics were impressive and hoped that Government would continue building on success and ensure quality healthcare for all.

He said this in a statement issued to the Daily Nation yesterday.

"Government should be commended for improving primary health care from 52 percent in 2011 to over 84 percent in 2019. Our hope is that this continue so that as a country we can achieve universal healthcare for all," he said. Dr Mwabu, however, urged the Ministry of Health to continue strengthening the healthcare system to ensure poor rural communities begin to receiving quality healthcare.

He called for concerted effort among all stakeholders in the health sector to tackle antimicrobial resistance among the country's population.

"As we commemorate antimicrobial resistance awareness this week, we call for more concerted efforts by all stake holders in the health sector in tackling challenges of antimicrobial resistance among Zambians," Dr Mwabu said.

Dr Mwabu observed that antimicrobial resistance was reducing the effectiveness of proven treatment for illness like malaria, Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.

He appealed to members of the public to avoid abusing antibiotics because the Medical consequences of this abuse were too dangerous as it was irreversible.