Plans underway to upgrade Lundazi District Hospital to a general hospital

Government says plans are underway to upgrade Lundazi District Hospital to a General Hospital, a move expected to bring specialised healthcare services closer to communities in Lundazi and the surrounding districts of Chama, Chasefu and Lumezi. Eastern Province Deputy Permanent…

Government says plans are underway to upgrade Lundazi District Hospital to a General Hospital, a move expected to bring specialised healthcare services closer to communities in Lundazi and the surrounding districts of Chama, Chasefu and Lumezi.

Eastern Province Deputy Permanent Secretary Lewis Mwape says the upgrade will help reduce costly referrals and ease the burden of long‑distance travel for patients seeking specialised medical treatment.

Dr Mwape noted that the hospital is strategically positioned to serve as a major referral facility once upgraded.

He was speaking during a recent visit to Lundazi District Hospital, where he was accompanied by Eastern Province Provincial Health Director Mathews Ng’ambi.

“We need another general hospital here because we do not have one in the northern circuit, so that our people can have access to specialised treatment,” he said.

Dr Mwape also commended the hospital management for making significant improvements to the facility’s infrastructure, including the installation of an oxygen plant and a modern incinerator.

He said the developments demonstrate the hospital’s readiness to support the planned upgrade and provide improved healthcare services to the growing population.

Meanwhile, Dr Ng’ambi said the hospital currently attends to more than 200 patients daily, indicating an increasing demand for healthcare services in the district and surrounding areas.

He added that transforming the facility into a General Hospital would strengthen the province’s healthcare referral system by bringing specialised medical services closer to communities.

Dr Ng’ambi said this will be achieved by deploying specialised personnel even before addressing infrastructure needs.