ANGELA CHISHIMBA, Lusaka
THE Egyptian government has given Zambia medical equipment and two tonnes of medicines worth US$500,000 to cushion the shortage of drugs.
The medicines and equipment donated by the Egyptian Agency for Partnership and Development, under the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, have been handed over to the Coptic Hospital in Northmead and Coptic Clinic in Kanyama.
Kanyama Coptic Clinic is a branch of the main hospital in Northmead.
Egyptian Ambassador to Zambia Ragaai Nasr disclosed this on Monday during the handover of the equipment and medicines to Coptic Hospital director Moheb Labib at the embassy.
“Building up on a meeting by President Lungu and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on the sidelines of the African Union (AU) summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Mr Fattah el-Sisi assured the Zambian President that Egypt would give support and aid to Zambia.
“This is the beginning and we assure the Zambian government that we will continue to help the Ministry of Health and other ministries. Our President promised President Lungu that Egypt will continue to help because our friendship and cooperation dates back since 50 years,” Mr Nasr said.
And Dr Labib said the hospital opened up a clinic in Kanyama which serves people in that area free of charge.
“This medicine will go a long way in helping people in Kanyama, which is densely populated,” he said.
He said the clinic also offers free anti-retroviral treatment to over 6,000 patients in Kanyama.
“We also take care of 300 orphans in that area medically, as well as making sure they go to school,” Dr Labib said.