Source: Times of Zambia
WOMEN in Zambezi District in North-Western Province have welcomed the mothers' shelter the Government is building at the district hospital, saying it will offer them relief.

The Government is constructing a mothers' shelter at Zambezi District Hospital at a cost of K70 million and is also renovating the maternity wing at a cost of K5 million.

Speaking on behalf of the women, Sombo Sakuwaha said the Government had done well to consider building a shelter because expectant mothers lacked a place where to stay while they waited to deliver. "We thank God that finally our Government has remembered us mothers here by putting up a shelter," Ms Sakuwaha, a mother of three, said.

Ms Sakuwaha said the construction of the mothers' shelter would alleviate the suffering of expectant mothers and others who were tending to the sick. North-Western Province medical officer George Liabwa said yesterday that there were other works going on at the hospital in an effort to improve its outlook

Dr Liabwa said the Government in its bid to improve the lives of its citizens had embarked on an ambitious programme to build mothers' shelters at selected hospitals in the province. "The bill of quantities has been done and money is in place. Construction will commence as soon as an initial K10m has been released," Dr Liabwa said.

He said the Government was aware that mothers' shelters played a critical role in the healing of children admitted to the hospital. He further added that works in the maternity wing were progressing well at the district's largest hospital.

Hospital superintendent Komba Chamileke expressed gratitude to government for coming to aid of the institution.

"As a hospital we are very happy that government listened to our request. This will indeed help our mothers," Dr Chamileke said. The mothers' shelter is a place where pregnant mothers from far flung areas stay while waiting to deliver at the hospital.

Mothers in the district have expressed happiness that the shelter was being worked on because they had no where to stay while waiting to deliver. "We thank God that finally our government has remembered us mothers here by putting up a shelter," said Mrs Sombo Sakuwaha, a mother of three. Mrs Sakuwaha said the construction of the mothers' shelter will alleviate mothers'

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