We inherited hospitals with no equipment, laments Masebo
…as World Vision Zambia donates ECG machines and medical supplies to Government worth over US$1m
MINISTER of Health, Sylvia Masebo says the new dawn administration inherited a number of health facilities countrywide that do not have the required diagnostic equipment to enable health workers deliver quality healthcare services to citizens.
Speaking when she received a donation of Electrocardiogram (ECG) machines and medical supplies worth US$1 million from World Vision Zambia ( WVZ), Ms Masebo said the non-availability of medical diagnostic equipment in a number of health facilities was one of the greatest challenges Government was facing.
“One of our greatest challenges is that we have inherited a number of health facilities in the country that really , I can say are at zero in terms of equipment and you know very well that if you are to give good treatment, correct diagnosis is very important and so this equipment that you are handing over to us today valued at over US$1 million is not only timely but the right equipment that we require,” Ms Masebo said.
She said Government had recognised the tremendous work that WVZ was doing in the county, which included interventions in the area of maternal and child health, nutrition, agriculture, education, water and sanitation.
The Minister said the equipment would greatly improve patient outcomes
Meanwhile , WVZ National Director, John Hasse expressed happiness that the child mortality rate had reduced by over 50 percent in the last two years.
Mr Hasse said as a Christian non-governmental organization, WVZ attached great importance to the wellbeing of vulnerable communities, especially children.
“We are really excited about this additional donation of these ECG machines and the hundreds of thousands of other dollars’ worth of equipment and supplies that we are providing in these difficult times .
“We just want to say thank you for a great partnership and let me just conclude that at World Vision , we believe in this kind of partnership, we want to see and support the Government’s direction towards health,” Mr Hasse said.