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Lumezi (Agenzia Fides) - A nursing school in the district of Lumezi was recently inaugurated. The initiative is part of the Diocesan Strategic Plan 2017-2021 of the Catholic community of Chipata which, in the context of health provisions, provides for the commitment of all the diocese structures to bring health services closer to people, as a concrete manifestation of the love of Christ.
"The Catholic Church of Chipata is involved in the training of nurses who will take care of patients with true dedication and love of Christ", said Mgr. Benjamin Phiri, Bishop of Chipata in his speech at the official opening of the St. Joseph Nursing School. As Agenzia Fides learns, President Edgar Chagwa Lungu also took part in the celebration. The school aims to integrate the government's efforts to train quality healthcare personnel with passion and zeal at the service of patients.
The Bishop explained that Lumezi school "will help girls gain access to education, reduce cases of child marriages, early pregnancies and other emergencies, particularly from the local community".
Work started in 2015 and was completed last year and the institute opened its doors in 2019. So far, dormitories and classrooms for girls have been built. The diocese's intention is to expand the school into a medical institute for the training of doctors and specialists. Currently the institute is under the direction of the sisters of the Congregation of Our Lady of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and is located in the missionary hospital of Lumezi.
Mgr. Phiri thanked the sisters, the president of the republic, the local community, the diocese of Chipata and all the people of good will who contributed generously to the construction of the school. In turn, President Lungu thanked the Church for the numerous development projects undertaken in the eastern province of the Country. The government, he remarked, appreciates the role of the Church towards the poor for access to assistance and medical care. Zambia currently needs nurses in more remote areas. President Lungu has promised that the government will do everything possible to help Lumezi school expand and grow. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 28/11/2019)
