GOVT REQUEST FQM TO HELP IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF REFERRAL HOSPITAL

GOVERNMENT has asked First Quantum Minerals (FQM) to help in the construction of a referral hospital for the North-Western Province in Solwezi.

Currently, Solwezi General Hospital is the only referral health facility for the entire province but it is overwhelmed due to increased population coupled with warn out infrastructure structures.

However, authorities in the mineral rich province have initiated a plan to construct a state of the art health facility which the province is asking the mining giant to help finance its construction.

And the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of the state-of-the-art hospital was done early this year by Vice-President Mutale Nalumango although works have not yet started.

Commerce, Trade and Industry minister Chipoka Mulenga says the mission to build the state of the art facility was a huge undertaking hence the need for other partners like the mines to come on board.

He said Government could not do it alone as health was critical to both human, social and economic development of the country.

"This facility once completed, will cushion and lessen the pressure being exerted on the Solwezi General Hospital. It is going to be a state-ofthe-art hospital and that is why we are asking our partners and corporate entities to come on board and FQM has been such a partner to government,” Mr Mulenga said.

He said the UPND government’s vision and desire was to have health tourism in the country which would be able to attract tourists from across the globe.

He however stated that to achieve the feat, health facilities needed to be state of the best quality with the best facilities.

Mr Mulenga was speaking during the commissioning of the Arts and Theatre Chapel named after the FQM chairman Philip Pascal in Solwezi at the Trident College.

The chapel has been dedicated to Mr Pascal being the founder of the mining conglomerate.

And Mr Pascal said FQM was complementing government’s efforts in improving the lives of citizens by ensuring that the best health facilities were accessed by the people.