Medics hail mobile hospitals
By JERRY MUNTHALI, YANDE KAPEYA and REBECCA CHILESHE
THE Zambia Medical Association (ZMA) has welcomed the signing of a US$ 53 million concessional loan agreement between Zambia and China for the provision of mobile medical services to the rural parts of the country.ZMA secretary general Robert Zulu said in response to a press query on Wednesday that the concept of mobile hospitals has been misunderstood by many sectors to mean a physical hospital on wheels.
“The signing of the agreement between Zambia and China to provide mobile medical services to rural Zambia is welcome. Specialist medical services in Zambia are concentrated to those in urban areas and the Zambians living in rural areas are denied the specialist skills that their counterparts are enjoying,” Dr Zulu said.
He was concerned that people who manage to reach the hospitals end up getting long appointments and are subsequently discouraged.
Dr Zulu said the concept of mobile hospitals has been misunderstood by many sectors to mean a physical hospital on wheels.
“Transportation of a structure like Ndola Central Hospital on wheels is not practical but rather the services that are offered by the same institutions are what we are transporting to districts,” he said.
Dr Zulu said the various skills and expertise that medical personnel have at the University Teaching Hospital, NCH and Kitwe Central Hospital should not be restricted to health institutions in urban areas.
“Health is a human right and should be available to every Zambian regardless of where they are living,” he said.
Dr Zulu said ZMA will look forward to the detailed plan of medical and surgical consumables and the type of specialist services that will be included in the mobile medical services.
He said ZMA will work with the Ministry of Health in the provision of high standard medical services to all Zambians regardless of where they are living.
Dr Zulu said the mobile medical services should be tailored to relieve the burden on health delivery system in Zambia
He said Zambia is already offering mobile specialist medical services to a small extent through organisations like FLYSPEC, Zambia Flying Doctors and Mercyflyers.
Dr Zulu, however, said these do not meet the whole spectrum of the disease burden in the country and that this is where Government comes in.
“We hope that this agreement signed by the Government of China and Zambia will meet the challenges that are not met by these organisations,” he said.
The ZMA joins chiefs, some churches and some civil society organisations who have said the construction of mobile hospitals will cushion government’s effort in providing quality health care services to the people.
House of Chief’s chairperson, Chief Mazimamwe said mobile hospitals are a good idea which will alleviate the suffering of people, especially in rural areas.
Chief Mazimamwe said the mobile hospitals will assist people in areas where there are no health facilities to access the services.
He said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that the previous House of Chiefs supported the establishment of the mobile hospitals, which the current membership also supports.
“The previous members of the House of Chiefs supported the idea of mobile hospitals and so we also support the idea because we work as a team.
“We believe the mobile hospitals will cushion the negative impact in certain areas where they do not have health facilities,” Chief Mazimamwe said.
He however said there is need for Government to work on the road infrastructure if the mobile hospitals have to reach far-flung areas.
The Chief said if the road network is not worked on, the sustainability of the mobile hospitals will be short-lived.
Bible Gospel Church in Africa (BIGOCA) overseer, Peter Ndhlovu said matters of life and health should not be politicised.
Bishop Ndhlovu said the introduction of mobile hospitals is a bright idea as accessibility to quality health care is a basic human right.
He said in a separate interview that the onus is now on the Ministry of Health to effectively manage the mobile facilities.
Bishop Ndhlovu said health personnel who will be engaged in running mobile hospitals should ensure health care services are delivered to the needy.
“It is a welcome move but it will need people who will work flat out to ensure health services are delivered to people in need as it has been the cry of many for government to make available quality health care services.
“So Government has a duty to ensure the mobile hospitals are not abused in any way so that they can last for a long time,” he said.
Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) executive director, Pukuta Mwanza said mobile hospitals are welcome but that maintenance costs will be a great challenge to Government.
Reverend Mwanza said the running costs of the mobile hospitals will be a great challenge due to the poor roads in most parts of the country.
Rev. Mwanza said the mobile hospitals are likely to be abused if government does not put in place stringent measures to curb the vice.
“The mobile hospitals are a good idea but government should brace for the cost of maintaining the vehicles,” Rev. Mwanza said.
Forum for Leadership Search executive director Edwin Lifwekelo said Government should be commended for its efforts in addressing accessibility to health care services.
He said government should as a long-term solution construct permanent hospitals across the country.
On Monday, President Banda advised Zambians to ignore former Minister of Defence, George Mpombo’s criticism of the US $ 53 million concessional loan for the construction of mobile hospitals.
Mr Banda said Mr Mpombo and others critical of mobile hospitals should focus their energies on other issues as the project is none of their business.
He said this at City Airport on Mondaay before departure for Mongu.
Mr Banda said government is in power and will do what is best for the people of Zambia.
“Do not mind people like Mpombo who are condemning the project, they are not a factor. For the other people that are also saying it, it is none of their business. We are the government in power and we do what is best for our people,” he said.
China and Zambia have signed four agreements, among them, one involving the provision of a concessional loan of 361 million Yuan for the construction of mobile hospitals in the country.
The Chinese government has also revealed that it will provide 30 million Yuan for implementation of other development projects in Zambia.
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