Livingstone Health Clinic to be Expanded with CDF Funds.

The Linda Clinic in Livingstone is scheduled to receive over three million Kwacha in CDF funding to upgrade the facility and turn it into a ‘mini-hospital’ before the end of the year, Health Secretary Elijah Muchima has announced.

The clinic has been operational since the 1970s and serves a local population of 7,400. However, planned renovations to the facility stalled in 2015. Mr Muchima is adamant that the regeneration of such clinics is crucial if the ambition of universal health coverage is to be realised. He specified the need purchase an X-Ray and construct a new operating theatre for the clinic.

Many prominent local figures attended Mr Muchima’s announcement. Speaking to ZNBC News afterwards, local councillor Sakubiwa Nyambe went into more detail regarding the nature of this investment: “CDF has approved the funding of about 3.6 million to complete this project, where we will see a children’s ward, female and male wards being completed”. The facility will also be served by one of the over 60 new ambulances recently purchased by the government with CDF funds.

Livingstone’s member of Parliament Rodney Sikumba signalled his intention for the clinic to be fully-funded by the year’s end. In the short-term, the government has committed to providing new bedding immediately, to improve sanitation.

This long-overdue investment was welcomed by local residents, and will go a long way to improving their access to quality healthcare.