Katonte Healthcare Programme plans to build a duplex at Katonte Village in Masaiti District, Copperbelt Province. The houses will allow the Ministry of Health to post two nurses so that a clinic which was built five years ago can begin to operate. Currently local people have to travel around 40 km to the nearest clinic. 1.0 IntroductionKatonte Village is in the eastern portion of Masaiti District on Copperbelt Province, some 7 km from the border with DRC. A clinic (pictured here) was built at Katonte in 2010 using funds from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). However, no housing was ever provided, and so the clinic has remained inoperable since it was built five years ago.
The estimated catchment population for the Katonte clinic (when it is open) is 4,300. This is even though the recommended catchment population for such a clinic is around 2,000. However, it is thought that owing to the distance from surrounding clinics, a population closer to 6,000 will actually be served. This will include of course many children (some are pictured here at the nearby school) as well as mothers and pregnant women.
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Description/ Item | Cost in Kwacha |
Foundation, Slab, Superstructure, Soak Away (includes community contributions) | 115,084 |
Ceilings and roofing | 67,327 |
Plumbing and electrical (cost of solar panel and water tank not included) | 65,865 |
Doors, windows and painting | 50,846 |
Grand Total | 299,123 |
The cost of equipping the centre has not yet be worked out. The majority of the standard medical equipment, including refrigerator for medicines and basic solar panel, will be provided by the MoH. The purchase of a computer plus card reader by KHP will allow monitoring of the number of patients being treated, as well as influence over morbidity and mortality rates in the area. We will seek to up-grade the solar system to support the operation of the computer. KHP has already sourced three hospital beds (two standard and one maternity) which are being provided free of charge by and NGO callled “Waneta”.
4.0 The Community and other Support
Katonte is in Senior Chief Chiwala’s area and both he and the local Member of Parliament have given the project their full backing. KHP identified the project in the first place by asking the Masaiti Health Office where its priorities lay, and they identified Katonte.
It is clear that the local community is fully supportive of the work. Led by their local councillor (in the middle here in blue and white striped shirt) they have already made half the required blocks, and the site has been identified and cleared.
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