Dialysis machines inadequate, says Minister

By NOEL IYOMBWA DIALYSIS machines across the country are not adequate to cater for all patients, Health Minister Jonas Chanda has told parliament. He was responding to Chembe MP, Sebastian Kopulande, who wanted to know how many dialysis machines there were at UTH and other medical facilities. He said that University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in …

Dialysis machines inadequate, says Minister
By NOEL IYOMBWA DIALYSIS machines across the country are not adequate to cater for all patients, Health Minister Jonas Chanda has told parliament. He was responding to Chembe MP, Sebastian Kopulande, who wanted to know how many dialysis machines there were at UTH and other medical facilities. He said that University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka has 19 machines while 31 machines were distributed to other parts of the country. Dr Chanda said that Ndola Teaching Hospital has five, Kitwe eight, Livingstone General Hospital seven while Mansa General Hospital has four. He said others are Chipata with four, Lusaka’s Levy Mwanawasa Teaching Hospital two and Kasama General Hospital four. The minister said that Lusaka Specialised Hospital which is yet to be commissioned will have 10 machines. Dr Chanda said that there are 23 machines in private health facilities across the country. He said that plans were under way to extend renal services to five more health facilities, namely, Lewanika General Hospital, Nchanga North Hospital, Kabwe Central Hospital and Chinsali General Hospital and Lusaka specialised hospital. Dr Chanda told the house that Government has introduced training of health personnel to ensure that renal services were implemented across the country.