Monze Mission Hospital has threatened to reduce the number of meals given to patients from three to one per day if funding to the institution does not improve.
Acting Medical Superintendant John Mvula said the institution had been experiencing erratic funding, a situation that was affecting the normal operations of the health institution.
Dr Mvula said hospital management was contemplating reducing the number of meals to patients from three meals to one per day if funding to the institution would not improve.
He said the institution was last funded in October last year forcing it to accumulated a debt of K247 million.
This came to light when Special Assistant to the President for Policy Implementation and Monitoring Ben Kapita met government heads of department in Monze yesterday.
Dr Mvula said the normal but irregular government grant to the institution ranged from K27 million to K35 million per month.
“We last received funding in October and from November to date, the hospital has not been funded causing the institution to accumulate about K247 million debt for it to continue running effectively,” Dr. Mvula said.
Monze Mission Hospital is a second level hospital and refers patients directly to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH).
It receives referrals from Choma, Gwembe, Mazabuka and Sinazongwe and it has also a reputation for offering best surgical services in Southern Province..
And Dr Mvula has said the restructuring of the Ministry of Health has resulted into reduced staffing levels.
He said most departments in the ministry had continued to reduce staff, a situation he described as worrisome.
The doctor said the pharmacy, midwives and revenue departments are some of the departments that have been affected by lower staffing levels.
Of the 15 midwives that the maternity department had, only 11 have so far received letters of appointment after restructuring.
“Restructuring of government ministries comes with gains as well as loses, he said.
Dr. Mvula has appealed to government to consider approving the remaining staff before they look for employment elsewhere
ZANIS
Talk to the soccer players. Perhaps they can give up a little of their $5000 bonus to feed patients at the hospital.
THE PROBLEM WITH ZAMBIA IS THAT THERE IS TOO MUCH SELFISHNESS NOBODY SEEMS TO BE CONCERNEDW ITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY OR WELLBEING OF THE CITIZENS,AM SURE FUNDING MUST HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED IN SOME WAY BUT TOO MUCH THEFT IN GOVERNMENT OFFICES. MWE MA ZAMBIANS PLEASE REDUCE ON THE KAPOKO IF WE ARE TO PROGRESS AS A NATION
And yet we are a Christian nation. Is this what God taught us?