Kitwe Hospital runs out of space

 ROGERS KALERO writes @sunzambian THE Kitwe Teaching Hospital (KTH) has been overwhelmed with the increasing number of COVID-19 patients and has since run out of space, Senior Medical Superintendent Abidan Chansa. As a result, Health Minister Jonas Chanda directed the management to immediately convert the Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) Tuberculosis ward into a COVID-19 center to reduce transmissions Dr Chansa said that the health institution had run out of space because of the increasing number of COVID-19 patients and has since “The hospital is overwhelmed with the increase in the number of COVID-19 patients and as a result the ward where the patients were being housed was full and this is the biggest challenge we have at this institution “We have tried to look for space which has been difficult to come by due to many demands the hospital has, with your coming we are hopeful that you will make some pronouncements so that we create more space,” Dr Chansa said Dr Chansa also said the feteriorating infrastructure and equipment was adversely affecting quality health delivery. And hospital consultant Morgan Mweene said that currently the hospital had 18 patients of which 14 were on oxygen. And in response, Dr Chanda directed to convert the Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) Tuberculosis ward into a COVID-19 centre. The MDR TB ward which is under construction and at 99 percent complete with a bed capacity of 40 and 12 offices has since been turned into a COVID-19 center. Dr Chanda said the 12 offices should equally be turned into bed spaces to bring the total number of bed capacity to 52. “With the spike in the number of cases it is imperative that the ward be turned into a COVID-19 center in order to create more space. “We have a pandemic and looking at your complaints where you are saying you are overwhelmed with the number of patients let this ward immediately be turned into a COVID-19 center ,this will also help in reducing cross infection if all are in that congested place then others will be at risk too, the chances of transmission are high ,”he said.