KANSANSHI Mining Plc has completed US$250,000 worth of reconstruc-tion work at the Solwezi General Hospital maternity ward and handed it to the Ministry of Health.
BY DERRICK SILIMINA 
Kansanshi Mine Assistant Gen-eral Manager John Gladston, who catalogued the works recently, did the handover on behalf of the mining company to Gov-ernment through North-Western Prov-ince Minister Nathaniel Mubukwanu.Explaining the sprucing up of the facili-ty, Gladston said works included the re-moval of PVC floor tiles and installation of a healthy epoxy floor, the electrical wiring of sockets and light fittings as well as the fixing of new doors, bath tubs, toilets and hand wash basins.
“In addition to the repair works, Kansanshi Mine procured new incu-bators, special maternity beds for the labour ward and normal beds and mat-tresses for the rest of the wards,” Glad-ston said.
All the works and equipment cost US$250,000 and of this total budget, Kansanshi Mine provided US$170,000 and its business partners chipped in with US$80,000.On March 8 in 2019, the maternity ward at Solwezi General Hospital suc-cumbed to a hailstorm which blew off its roof and caused extensive damage to the walls, floor, furniture and fittings.
The storm further destroyed electrical fittings, and incubators among other equipment at the health facility.Gladston said the reconstruction of the maternity ward at the district hospital demonstrated the mining company’s dedication to the population in the area of its operation.
“It gives us at First Quantum Miner-als and its Kansanshi Mining Plc great pleasure to finally hand over the new maternity ward at Solwezi General Hospital as the facility was completely decimated by a natural disaster which affected mothers’ access to health care at the hospital.”
It was at such times that corporate cit-izens must, at all times, maintain cred-ibility in the areas of their operation and step up to meet social needs such as maternity facilities. It was an essential human endeavour and a fundamental human right for mothers to be able to give birth in a safe environment.
Gladston explained that the major re-construction work was completed in 2019 and comprised of the rebuilding of the walls to support replacement of the entire roof structure.
“We are eternally grateful to these busi-ness partners, too numerous to men-tion who made it possible for us to com-plete the reconstruction work,” he said.
And speaking when he officially re-ceived the new rebuilt maternity ward, Mubukwanu expressed gratitude for the swift response by Kansanshi Mine and its partners towards rebuilding the main maternity ward at the hospital.
“We are truly grateful to you Kansan-shi Mining Plc and we will never tire to acknowledge the support that you are rendering to the community that is hosting you. You have truly demon-strated to be true partners of Govern-ment and true partners of the people of Solwezi and North-Western Province,” Mubukwanu said.
He further noted that the mining firm’s timely response to rebuild a modern health facility would go a long way in enhancing quality health care delivery as well as motivate medical staff.Addressing maternal and child mor-tality was Government’s legacy goal number one which entailed reducing maternal mortality from 398 per 100 live births to less than 100 per 1,000 by 2021.
“In 2018, we recorded 12 maternal mortalities while in 2019, we lost 14 women. In 2020, we have recorded sev-en maternal mortalities while neonatal deaths were 36 in 2019 and in 2020, we recorded 48 cases,”
Mubukwanu noted.He emphasised that, in order for the country to attain this goal, it required collective efforts by the individuals that are involved, and the corporate entities that are involved also needed to con-tribute to the realisation of this goal.
Out of the 28 business partners who contributed towards the reconstruc-tion budget of the maternity ward, the six who were Gold sponsors for their substantial contributions were Total Zambia, Mary Begg Community Clinic in Solwezi, Olibul Investments, Jachris, Quattro Bus Services and Mr Clean.In a vote of thanks, Solwezi Gener-al Hospital Medical Superintendent Namwaka Mukunyandela praised the mining firm and its business partners for the noble gesture, which would en-hance the provision of quality health care among expectant mothers.
And Gertrude Luwingu, a mother of two who gave birth to a bouncy baby boy on the eve of the hand over, paid glowing tribute to the mining firm and its business partners for a job well done.
“Thank you to Kansanshi Mine for re-storing our dignity because as mothers in the district, we used to face challeng-es a lot but now with this facility, we will be able to give birth in a modern environment.”
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