budget allocation for blood transfusion commodities to double

Effie Mphande-Health Minister SYLVIA MASEBO says the government has increased the budgetary allocation for blood transfusion commodities to over K62m from slightly over K31m.

Ms. MASEBO says government decided to double the allocation for blood and blood products to improve the provision of health services in the country.

The Minister was speaking in an interview with ZNBC news shortly after touring Mambilima Mission Hospital in Mwense district in Luapula Province.

Ms. MASEBO said blood is essential to life and that it is important for it to be readily available in all hospitals countrywide.

She explained that processing blood and blood products is expensive hence government putting in more resources.

The Minister encouraged Zambians to donate blood so that the country has enough stocks.

Ms. MASEBO also thanked churches that run hospitals for supplementing government efforts in the provision of health services.

The Minister who also toured Mwense District hospital said government will buy an X-ray for the health facility.

Currently, patients who require X-ray services are taken to Mambilima Mission Hospital.