The Japanese government has given Zambia an additional 17 million United States Dollars grant for the upgrade of Mushili and Chamboli Health Centers into District hospitals in the Copperbelt Province.
The grant comes after an initial 25 million dollars channeled into the project bringing the total to 42 million dollars with the aim of enhancing the provision of quality services at the health centers.
Japanese Ambassador to Zambia Kazuyuki Takeuchi says once completed, there is an anticipated improvement of health services in the densely populated areas around the health centres.
Meanwhile, Minister of Finance and National Planning, Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, says the additional grants will help the government to cater for the primary health care needs of people of Chamboli Township in Kitwe and Mushili Township of Ndola.
The two were speaking during the official signing ceremony of exchange of notes between Zambia and Japan for the Economic and Social Development Programme for upgrading health centers to district hospitals in Copperbelt Province.
By Shem Malinda