By 
President Hakainde Hichilema on Saturday officially commissioned the newly rehabilitated Radiotherapy and Imaging Section at the Cancer Diseases Hospital, a landmark project fully funded by the Zambian Government at a cost of US$31 million.
President Hichilema reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to investing in quality healthcare, noting that “A healthy nation is a wealthy nation.”
Speaking during the commissioning in Lusaka, President Hichilema further underscored Zambia’s ambition to become a regional centre of excellence in cancer care, where patients from neighbouring countries can seek specialised treatment.
He noted thst for five years, the closure carried a heavy cost with the government spending millions sending 600 patients abroad for treatment, while thousands more waited, suffered and prayed.
“That wait ended today. This facility will now treat up to 60 patients a day, here at home. The money once spent on airfares and foreign hospitals will now be invested in Zambian doctors, Zambian nurses and Zambian patients,” President Hichilema said.
He said the first patient to receive treatment was Mauleya Zimba, 62, who was living with cervical cancer, noting that hers was more than a medical procedure as she carries the story of thousands of Zambians and today, she carries their hope.
“A healthy nation is a wealthy nation. We are building Zambia into a regional centre of excellence in cancer care, so that one day patients fly here for treatment, not away from it,” President Hichilema stated.
He said the facility was now one of only three of its kind on the continent, alongside those in South Africa and Egypt.
President Hichilema said after being closed since 2020, the facility was once again providing life-saving cancer treatment to Zambians, bringing renewed hope to thousands of patients and their families.
“The rehabilitation has restored state-of-the-art radiotherapy and imaging services, enabling the hospital to treat up to 60 cancer patients every day,” he said.
President Hichilema said the investment would significantly reduce the need to send patients abroad for treatment, allowing resources to be reinvested into strengthening Zambia’s healthcare system.
He assured of government’s commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure, investing in modern medical technology and ensuring that quality, specialised healthcare services are accessible to all Zambians.
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