North-western Provincial Health Director Luckson Chidikita has called on the local authorities in the province to ensure that every maternity annex being constructed has a mother’s shelter.

Sharing some developmental needs in the health sector Dr. Chidikita said the Presidential delivery unit formed to fight maternal mortality and neonatal deaths have noted with concern the disparities in the maternity annexes being constructed using the Constituency Development Funds (CDF).

“The President believes, as we also believe, that women should not die during childbirth and that can only be attained if certain amenities are put in place,” Dr. Chidikita said.

He noted with concern the number of women that are giving birth from their homes due to the long distances covered between the health facility and the households in rural areas.

“We realise that the key aspects that are missing among them is the mother’s shelter, our districts are rural and most of our people are living very distant from the health centers,” Dr. Chidikita said.

The medical personnel also stated that all the maternity annexes that will be constructed going forward should have a mother’s shelter, running water and proper sanitary facilities.

Furthermore, the Provincial Health Director said all health facilities being constructed using the CDF allocation should have one standard in all the districts so that people do not feel like there is favoritism.

Meanwhile, Mwinilunga town council secretary Gift Kakoma said the council only follows designs given to them from the Ministry of Health.

Mr. Kakoma stated that their job is just to follow what has been stipulated in the guidelines.