By Derrick SinjelaTHE Ministry of Health (MoH) took advantage of the 2008 International Women’s Day to take medical services closer to the people by setting up three outreach points in Lusaka.The three medical outreach clinics were set up at Crossroads Shopping Mall, Manda Hill and at Downtown Shopping Complex, and encouragingly, shoppers in groups took time to take their individual medical checks.Screening was limited to blood pressure, checking sugar level, taking malaria slide and weighing shoppers during the medical outreach.MoH staff found screening shoppers at Crossroads were happy at the interest by people taking time off their busy schedule to be screened and prescribed medicine.Nine-year-old Chisenga Daka, a Grade Four (4) pupil at Saint Andrews United Church of Zambia (UCZ), weighed 28 kilogrammes and no traces of malaria were found in his blood slide.Rohitha Welihandage, who works as Coordinator with Action Aid International said he knew about the free medical check up from a workmate and decided to come along. Welihandage said he tested malaria negative while his sugar level was fine at 7.7 and found the medical outreach user friendly as it was done while shopping.“This is a good programme which in my view must be done more often. People need to be encouraged to be vigilant about their health status as it is not good to seek medical attention only when one falls ill. I was found malaria negative, my sugar level was at 7.7.Henry Lupele, a 70-year-old Lusaka resident was encourages to take a medical check up by his grandchild, 35-year-old Charity Kasongo before doing some shopping at Spar Zambia supermarket.Lupele said nothing negative was found after doing malaria, blood pressure, and sugar level checks and was comfortable with his weight.Lupele, a Mtendere Township resident encouraged young people to lead exemplary lifestyles for them to live longer or even clock more than 70 years.“I do not want young people to die earlier than older people all because of negative lifestyles. I want young people to reach my age or even do better than my 70-yearss on this earth. And since young people have ears and eyes they must listen to us, elders because we have lived through good and sad moments,” said Lupele.Mrs. Bwalya Banda, a house manager welcomed the outdoor clinic saying it was a good concept that needed to be conducted regularly.Banda found it a useful and time conscious concept because of the long wait that one needed to endure once seeking medical attention and consultation either at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) or a township clinic.Said Bwalya Banda: “It is good especially for us, women. You might not know that it was a long time that I visited the UTH or let alone a clinic. We are usually withdrawn to seek medical check up from clinic because of the long queues.’Banda suggested that testing for HIV, should be included next time the MoH hold a clinic day as just as people wanted to find out if they had malaria symptoms in their blood they could equally want to establisher whether HIV positive, negative or not.‘’My prayer and wish is that a VCT facility be included next time. Such a category would have ensured that people know whether positive or not. As you may be aware, it is not easy for someone to just wake up and decide to take an HIV test but if such a service is included as people do their shopping, we could see numbers of people testing being increased. Just like I came here to take a blood slide for malaria and get screening for my sugar level, I might just as well have checked and known about my HIV status,” advised Banda.Another recipient, identified as Mrs. S. James expressed satisfaction at the service rendered by the ministry of health adding that it was not easy for many people to find time to visit a medial facility.An appreciative Ms James pointed out that it was not always easy for people to go to a clinic or hospital for medical check up or when ill because of distances associated with making such decisions.“This to me is a very appreciative gesture because we do not have to go to a hospital or clinic for a medical check up. I am happy that the MoH thought of bringing this medical check up facility closer to our doorstops. It is good that I was able to check my blood pressure, sugar level, took a malaria slide and my weight while shopping said James as she walked away.Julian Mwanza Kinkese was found on the scene supervising the medical clinic at Crossroads Shopping mall along Leopards Hill Road.29-year-old Precious Phiri weighed 90 kilogrammes and found the weight fine despite increasing by five kilogrammes from the usual 85 kilogrammes.‘I am happy with my weight. I weighed five kilogrammes more than my usual 85 kilogrammes but it is just fine,” said Ms Phiri.House wife, Judith Mlongoti, did not know about the clinic facility and only found out while shopping around at Crossroads Shopping Mall.Mlongoti, a Nyumba Yanga, resident said as a diabetic patient her medical services were usually sought at nearby Chilenje clinic.“I am diabetic and always go to Chilenje clinic to get my sugar levels. I am happy to find this facility as I do my shopping.Kabwe Musonda, an office assistant in the Planning Department at the MoH, Ndeke House headquarters in Lusaka explained that the clinics were conducted at Arcades, Manda Hill, and Downtown shopping complexes.“As a ministry that is tasked with ensuring that citizens and all those that live in and work in Zambia remain healthy, we thought of providing this service as part of commemorating the 2008 International Women’s Day,” said Musonda.Musonda’s viewpoint was echoed by Nora Chipeta, who explained that promoting good health and affordable health was a key consideration in introducing the provision of free medical check up.“We came here as part of our contribution to promotion of good health among citizens and all those that reside in Zambia or do business in our country. We came here as a team from Ndeke House which includes nursing staff from UTH and other clinics in Lusaka,” said Chipeta.Chipeta said the desire by residents to include an aspect of Voluntary Counseling and Testing would be tabled before senior MoH executive officers at Ndeke House.‘I am aware that people are calling for an aspect of HIV testing during these outdoor clinics. We are going to make a report to MoH and I am certain that our senior executive officers will address this concern,” said Chipeta.
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