Chipata District Hospital has called on government to engage Zesco Limited to consider exempting hospitals from the ongoing load shedding exercise.

Speaking when Chipata Central Member of Parliament Moses Mawere visited the hospital, some members of staff explained that currently the hospital is also experiencing load shedding.
They added that this also leads to unavailability of water as the hospital is only able to pump water using electricity.

And Chipata District Hospital Administrator Noah Banda noted that despite the hospital being new, it has challenges with transport as it only has one ambulance which is not in good shape, making it difficult for health workers to carry out their duties effectively.

He notes that the hospital is also having challenges with hospital equipment such as the extra software machine, and dental equipment.

Meanwhile Chipata Central Member of Parliament Moses Mawere assured the hospital management that he will personally engage the minister of health to find out why the hospital despite being new has challenges with equipment.
The MP who was visiting the hospital to understand the challenges it is facing, further promised to engage management at ZESCO to exempt hospitals and other health facilities from loadsheding.

On September 13, during the presidential address to the nation, President Edgar Lungu directed the power utility company to exempt health facilities from load shedding.