PRESS STATEMENT ON MR. CHISHIMBA KAMBWILI’S MEDICAL EVACUATION TO SOUTH AFRICA.
For Immediate Release
(Lusaka – 16 February 2024)
The Ministry of Health refers to the article in the Daily Nation News Paper published today, February 16, 2024 on Mr. Chishimba Kambwili’s medical evacuation to South Africa.
The Ministry wishes to refute this unverified story as being incorrect and not factual.
Please note that Mr. Kambwili was admitted to Maina Soko Medical Centre on the 8th Febraury, 2024, where he received treatment from a team of specialist doctors who recommended for his evacuation to South Africa.
Following this recommendation, the President of the Republic of Zambia, His Excellency, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, through the Minister of Health, authorised the immediate air evacuation of Mr. Kambwili to South Africa, Milpark Hospital.
On February 11, 2024, Mr. Chishimba Kambwili was transferred from Maina Soko Medical Centre to the airport via ambulance with a full set of medical staff. The Government paid for two return air tickets for Mr. Kambwili and the caregiver, his daughter.
The choice of the care giver was made by Mr. Kambwili. Further, a specialist doctor accompanied Mr. Kambwili to South Africa at Government expense.
It is a standard practice that all patients referred by Government for medical treatment abroad are accompanied by their relatives or caregivers whose transportation and upkeep expenses in the host country are paid for by the Zambian Government.
We advise the media to verify news items prior to printing as the Ministry of Health maintains an open door media policy and stands ready to cooperate and work with the media in Zambia.
Dr. Kalangwa Kalangwa,
Spokesperson,
Ministry of Health.
The daily nation is a PF tabloid. It’s editorial policy is anti UPND government. This tabloid grew leaps and bounds during the period 2015 to 2021 when it enjoyed government support. Government owned newspapers the daily mail and times of Zambia were completely sidelined in preference to this tabloid. Now the tide has changed and all it can do is cover or report negativity on government.
The Kambwili family should tell PF to leave them alone to benefit from govt help without interference. Was it not PF that suffocated CK’s businesses forcing him to return to them for survival? Should the govt not be taking such newspapers that spread falsehood to court for redress?
I think people are now more interested to hear about his condition than how he was evacuated.