Government has commissioned a state-of-the art digital x-ray machine at Kasama General Hospital.

Northern Province Permanent Secretary, Bernard Mpundu, who commissioned the machine, said government remains committed to improving health care delivery to the people.

Mr Mpundu says government has prioritised health care to ensure equity and improved access to health services across the country.

ZANIS reports that Mr Mpundu said this when he commissioned the new digital x-ray machine at Kasama General Hospital.

Mr Mpundu regretted that the hospital did not provide effective health care services as a result of lacking an X-ray machine and stated that the new equipment will promote access to health care and ease the burden of transportation costs.

He explained that many patients were being referred to other hospitals like Chilubula Mission at the expense of both the individual and the hospital.

Meanwhile, Northern Province Health Director, Ernest Mutale, said the installation of the modern X- ray machine will greatly improve health care delivery to the people. 

Dr Mutale said the installer is now in Chilubi District, installing another X- ray machine that will soon be commissioned.

He said his office is still pushing the Ministry of Health to ensure that all district hospitals are equipped with X-ray machines. 

Meanwhile, Kasama General Hospital Medical Superintendent, Satchmo Shyamayanda, said the hospital has been operating without an x-ray machine for almost a year.

He said the X-ray machine which the hospital had broke down in April last year.

Dr Shyamayanda has since thanked the government for procuring a digital x-ray machine for the general hospital.