Zambia: Deputy Minister of Health Halima Daud attended the Rotary Family Health days launch on Wednesday. The aim of the event was to bring health care services closer to the community. The
The event was hosted at the Chilimampunga ground in Traditional Authority Njewa in Lilongwe. According to the organizers, it falls in line with the government’s mandate to provide access to quality healthcare facilities.
Minister Halima Daud expressed their gratitude to the healthcare officials and stakeholders during the launch event. He claimed the administration appreciates them for supporting the efforts to provide good health service delivery to people across the country.
Daud especially hailed Rotary Club International for its contributions. He said the organization’s efforts to bring health services closer to the community are what the government is advocating for.
He further and called on other players to replicate the gesture for the other community. He asserted that government cannot manage to offer all the services on their own.
“As government, we are so happy with this initiative because many people will have an opportunity of being diagnosed different type ailments such as eyes, ears, dental, family planning, TB, HIV and AIDS,” she said.
Daudi also noted that the rotary family health days will help the people who could not have access to health facilities which are very far from where they stay.
President of the Rotary Club International Dr Gordon Mcinally also shared his views about the significance of the event. He said the family health care days help to minimise the time and costs people use when visiting health facilities.
“This is the beauty of rotary family health days which are mobile clinics, we are bringing health care services closer to the people so that they should not travel long distance to access health services,” he said.
Mcinally then assured the people that they will continue working with government in order to improve health services in the country. The healthcare capacity of a country is one of the major indicators of development in the nation.
Further, the community residents where the event was hosted have also come forward to share their views on the situation.
One of the beneficiaries, Elina Kamanga, residing in Mtandile township, thanked the Rotary Family Health Days initiative. She noted that she has been visiting the hospital to find out whether she has Tuberculosis (TB), but to no avail.
“I want to applaud this initiative, because today they have diagnosed me with TB, and I also went to test my eyes and they have given me eye glasses. I am encouraging those who feel they have got health problems to utilise this opportunity by getting free treatment,” she said.
The Rotary Club International has been hosting similar initiatives for the benefit of the people from time to time. Previously, the initiative was funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to the tune of US$3.5 million.
The previous edition of the event was hosted at Mitundu Community Hospital in Lilongwe.