COMMUNITY Development, Mother and Child Health Minister Joseph Katema has called on Neighbourhood Health Care committees (NHCs) and other social welfare groups to partner with Government in the provision of primary health care services.

Dr Katema said the partnership between NHCs and Government would help bring primary health care close to the people in the community.

The minister made the remarks in Ndola when he visited Nkwazi Clinic at the weekend.

"Government is calling on all NHCs and social welfare groups to partner with us so that we work hand-in-hand in the delivery of primary health care services to the people in the community," he said.

Dr Katema said it was the people in the community who should identify the demand for seeking health behaviour, while Government was there to facilitate infrastructure development through provision of finances.

He said Government had made available the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and Social Development Fund (SDF) for the community groups to actively participate in service delivery at grassroot level.

As regards the state of Nkwazi Clinic, Dr Katema assured that Government would address the challenges facing the institution.

Dr Katema said Government would deploy more staff during the placement of health personnel.

Nkwazi Clinic caters for close to 40, 000 people from within and surrounding areas.