By Bennie Mundando
MINISTER of health Jonas Chanda has expressed gratitude over the continued cordial relationships that exist with Japan, Sweden, and China which he says have translated into increased human resource development and technical support in many sectors including health.
Speaking during virtual meetings with Chinese Ambassador to Zambia, Li Jie, Japanese Ambassador to Zambia, Ryuta Mizuuchi and their Swedish counterpart, Anna Maj-Nulkmaj, Dr. Chanda said President Edgar Lungu had mandated him to ensure that both public and donor confidence in the county’s health sector was restored.
He pledged to ensure that transparency and accountability in the utilization of all resources, whether in material or financial form, was enhanced adding that prudence in resource utilization was key in ensuring improved service delivery.
He praised the three Governments for their pledge to enhance the provision of oxygen, a critical commodity in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that 70 per cent of COVID19 patients require oxygen therapy.
The three countries have since reiterated their continued support to Zambia to help the country overcome various health challenges especially amidst the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
And Chinese ambassador to Zambia Li Jie thanked President Lungu for the continued commitment in ensuring the bilateral relationship between the two countries remain sound for the attainment of various milestones in the health sector.
He said his Government was currently hosting 5,000 Zambian students. Japanese Ambassador to Zambia Ryuta Mizuuchi said Zambia had been one of the focus in Africa on the Japanese Development Cooperation agenda. He pledged his Government’s support to fulfill the gap in Zambia’s financial needs.
Meanwhile, Swedish Ambassador to Zambia Anna Maj-Nulkmaj expressed happiness that Dr. Chanda had assured her Government of financial accountability, which she said would strengthen the partnership between the two countries.
Dr. Chanda has since called for support towards the construction of Provincial Medical hubs as well as medicine manufacturing plants in Zambia.
