The Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) has expressed satisfaction with the consistency in the availability of essential drugs at Chinsali General Hospital in Muchinga Province.

PDU Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist Tobias Michelo disclosed that over 80 percent drug availability has been recorded at the facility, as required by the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards.

Speaking during a monitoring and evaluation exercise, Mr Michelo said: that access and availability of essential medicines at the General Hospital is in line with one of the PDU deliverables of increasing the availability of essential medicines.

Mr Michelo said that it is President Hakainde Hichilema’s desire to ensure people have easy access to quality medical care through readily available drugs, noting that Chinsali General Hospital is responding well to the call.

“We are also very excited with the performance and the attitude of health workers at this facility and we appreciate their professionalism,” he said.

Mr Michelo acknowledged challenges such as lack of a backup power supply and an ambulance but assured that these will soon be addressed through coordinated efforts with the Muchinga Provincial Administration.

And Muchinga Province Deputy Permanent Secretary Brian Sichande reaffirmed government’s commitment to stocking all health centres with essential medicines.

Mr Sichande noted that while Chinsali General Hospital has a commendable record, consistency must be improved as it serves as a referral hospital for Muchinga and Northern provinces.

“However, this good record of drug availability is highly commendable to government for ensuring that this hospital is fully equipped with medicines,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chinsali General Hospital Medical Superintendent Aaron Nyirenda thanked government for increasing the hospital’s operational grant to about K500, 000.

Dr. Nyirenda also praised the recent stability in power supply, which is vital for the hospital’s sophisticated machinery.