LEWANIKA General Hospital main pharmacy and storeroom have been extensively damaged following a mysterious fire that swept through part of the health institution.

A Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) team that arrived at the hospital around 08:30hours found the fire had already reached the roof and the wall was cracking because of intense heat.

A water tanker from the office of the Vice-President came in to help put off the fire after 15 minutes. The water tanker almost managed to bring the fire under control but the water pressure decreased allowing the fire to re-ignite.

A Land-Rover from the civil aviation department was also brought in to help fight the fire, but the building had by then already been extensively damaged.

Lewanika General Hospital executive director, Andrew Silumesi, could not give the exact loss but was quick to say the pharmacy and storeroom had been destroyed.

He said a full report would be issued after an assessment and referred all queries to the ministry of Health spokesperson in Lusaka.

In the confusion, some residents were seen running away with mattresses but police moved in to seal off the hospital.

And Sylvia Mweetwa reports that Western Province Permanent Secretary, Patrick Kashinka, confirmed the development and said the fire started after 07:00 hours.

He said that the fire was discovered at about 08:15 hours. Fire fighters only managed to extinguish it after 10:00 hours.

Investigations have been launched to establish the cause.

He said authorities were hopeful that the hospital would not experience any shortage of drugs following the fire.-(See Picture on Page 3)