DEPUTY Minister in the Ministry of Health Patrick Chikusu has called for professionalism among health workers.

Dr Chikusu said Government would not tolerate bad working attitudes towards work in health centres.

Speaking yesterday in Serenje when he toured Chitambo School of Nursing and Hospital after meeting health personnel at the district office, Dr Chikusu said the Government was working at improving people's lives through better health delivery.

He said the Government would not allow civil servants that were not willing to do the job to derail progressive programmes.

He said the Government had put in place measures to ensure that the ministry was fully equipped to provide proper health services to the community.

Dr Chikusu said the Government had set aside about KR594 million for drugs in the country to ensure shortages of drugs remained a thing of the past.

Government was putting up infrastructure throughout the country to ensure that health centres were in good condition as good health was a prerequisite for national development.

Dr Chikusu said about 24 health centres were being established in Serenje District alone to ensure that people did not travel long distances to access health services.

He took time to explain the realignment of his ministry with the Ministry of Community Development Mother and Child Health and emphasised that his ministry would still be in charge of training health personnel.

And Serenje District medical officer Tiza Mfuni said the district had a number of challenges ranging from inadequate drugs to limited human staff.

Dr Mfuni explained that the district was in need of transport in order to provide the necessary services to the community and was happy with government efforts in addressing the challenges.