Kabwila donates towards maternal health in Salima: K1.5m worth bicycle ambulances

Salima North West legislator, Jessie Kabwila, has handed over bicycle ambulances worth K1.5 million which she hoped would up her endeavors in reducing the maternal mortality rate in her constituency.

During a handover ceremony held in the area of Traditional Authority (T/A) Khombedza on Friday, Kabwila urged members of her constituency to take care of the ambulances.

She noted that maternal mortality was a hot-button issue in her constituency.

“We recently lost four women because they were delayed to be referred to Salima District Hospital because there was no ambulance available,” said Kabwila.

Group Village Headman Madyakale who spoke on behalf of the T/A, commended Kabwila for the bicycles which were “made by Salima based entrepreneurs.”

 Other issues raised

During the ceremony constituents also seized the opportunity to raise other issues affecting them, including unavailability of subsidized fertilizer.

“Tell government that we’ve indeed received the coupons to buy the subsidized fertilizers but it is unfortunate that there is no fertilizer here in Salima.

“We are travelling long distances with hope of getting the fertilizer but to no avail,” said Jafali Phiri, a subsistence farmer.

He said if the problem persisted it heralded tough times ahead in terms of food security.

“This is the time we need the fertilizer, and we cannot access it. It will affect our harvest surely,” said Phiri.

Kabwila promised to talk to the District Agriculture Development Officer (DADO) about the matter.