HH family gifts Mongu a hospital

By NATION REPORTER

PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has disclosed that his family has constructed and donated a hospital in Mongu, stating that the project was a personal initiative funded without public resources.

The health facility, which has since been handed over to the Ministry of Health, was built as a lasting legacy following his incarceration in 2017.

“This hospital was funded by the HH family. There was no public money involved,” President Hichilema said.

He explained that the idea to construct the hospital was conceived after he was detained for 127 days at Mukobeko Maximum Security Prison in Kabwe on treason charges.

“In 2017, I was charged with treason. I got a shock of my life… I asked myself what I should do for a permanent memory,” he said.

Mr Hichilema said he and his wife resolved to invest in a project that would benefit communities, leading to the construction of the hospital.

He disclosed that land for the project was offered by a local traditional leader part of which was allocated for the health facility.

“My wife and I decided to create something to last as a memory. The headman gave me land in Mongu and we decided to build a public utility,” Mr Hichilema said.

President Hichilema said the hospital would help improve access to healthcare services in the area and contribute to better health outcomes for residents.

“The hospital will help improve the health of the people in this area,” he said.

President Hichilema said the project was executed by a local contractor, describing it as a demonstration of empowering local capacity.

“This is the first time I have come to see the works,” he said.

He reiterated that the facility was now under Government management following its handover.

“The hospital was handed over to the Ministry of Health. The HH family did its work and now it remains with the Ministry to do its work,” Mr Hichilema said.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr Alex Katakwe said the country had reached about 86 percent availability of essential medical supplies and indicated that Government was planning to recruit about 2, 500 additional health workers.