President Hakainde Hichilema has reiterated his call for improved maternity services in the country.

President Hichilema said government wants all health centres in the country to have a well serviced maternity ward to ensure safe delivery of all mothers.

Speaking when a delegation from World Vision led by World Vision president Andrew Morley visited him at State House this morning, the President appealed to the World Vision to extend their water reticulation services to the health and Education sectors, especially with the shortages caused by drought.

The Head of State stated that the drought experienced in the country’s last farming season has shown the need for the country to invest in water harvesting and sanitation to avoid the negative effects such as food insecurity and energy crisis that have been experienced.

He has hailed the World Vision for the long-standing partnership with the country which traces back to 43 years ago and especially their help to the country in drought response efforts including water harvesting and drilling of boreholes in various parts of the country.

The President has committed government’s help to ensure that all their projects are implemented effectively by removing all rigidities within the government processes.

He has since appealed to the World Vision to share best practices from other countries where they are present and share technical know-how for the implementation of durable but low-cost projects.

And speaking at the same meeting, visiting World Vision president Andrew Morley disclosed that the World Vision is currently implementing a national strategy to end child hunger and malnutrition in the next two years by feeding 1.5 million children in the country.

Mr Morley stated that the World Vision has so far fed about 75,000 children who have benefited from their school feeding program and that over 240,00 people have benefited from their drought relief food distribution programme.

He highlighted that the World Vision is also focusing on improving water and sanitation in communities and that 131,000 households have benefited from their water harvesting and reticulation programmes countrywide.