GOVT APPLAUDED OVER FLYING DOCTOR SERVICES

CHIEF Mumena of Kalumbila district in North-Western Province has applauded government for revamping the Zambia Flying Doctor Services in the country.

The traditional leader says it is a good initiative that government has brought back the service.

He said the Flying Doctors Service had been received with both hands as it was able to reach most parts of the country particularly in rural communities where health services were still not easily accessible.

“That is one way of reaching those communities which are unreachable. It is a good initiative and we applaud government for that,” said the traditional leader when a parliamentary committee on Health, Community Development and Social Services led by Lukulu Member of Parliament Christopher Kalila called in him at his palace.

The traditional leader however called on government to renovate airstrips that had been run down in most parts of the country so that the doctors could be able to land safely unlike the current scenario where they land from provincial centers.

Chief Mumena said this would enable the doctors reach needy areas where there were emergencies.

He also proposed the need for government to reinvest in the service by providing more aircraft, stating that currently, the service only had one aircraft which was operational and servicing the whole country.

“That is not enough looking at the vastness of our country and the demand for the services. So there is need to provide more aircraft to the service,”Chief Mumena said.

He also proposed the need for establishment of First Level hospitals in provinces like North western for easy referral than depending on Ndola as the referral center.