Ndola Hospital records over 500 mental health cases every week; debt, gambling cited
The Minister of Health Dr Alex Katakwe has revealed that Ndola Teaching Hospital is registering over 500 mental health cases every week, stating that some cases can be attributed to gambling and debt.
Dr Katakwe adds that there is an increase in mental health illnesses across the country, with some being attributed to abuse of drugs and alcohol by teenagers.
Meanwhile, Dr Katakwe says the amendment of the Mental Health Bill will strengthen mental healthcare and services in the country. He said this while responding to questions in parliament on Monday.
On another note, the Government of the Republic of Zambia, through the Ministry of Health, has commissioned five Skills Laboratories at nursing and midwifery training institutions in Kaoma, Chitambo, Mbala, Nchanga, and Kashikishi (St. Paul’s). The initiative marks a significant step towards strengthening the country’s health workforce and improving access to quality healthcare in rural communities.
The commissioning led by Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Alex Katakwe, and represented by Director of Nursing, Ms. Daphne Namoonga Shamambo. He noted that the development comes at a critical time, as Zambia continues to face a shortage of nurses and midwives, particularly in underserved areas. The new facilities are designed to enhance practical training, strengthen clinical competencies, and better prepare students for real-world service delivery.
In remarks delivered on his behalf, Dr. Katakwe emphasised the importance of investing in health workers and called on communities to support newly recruited staff. He stressed that retaining health workers in rural areas is not only a government responsibility but also a shared community obligation.
The Ministry of Health, in partnership with SolidarMed Zambia, the Hilti Foundation, Liechtenstein Development Service, and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), has been implementing a decentralised training model. This approach brings education closer to communities and aligns training with actual service needs.
Funded by SDC, the newly commissioned Skills Laboratories are a key component of this model. They provide structured, simulation-based environments where students can practise essential clinical skills, build confidence, and prepare for service in the communities where they are most needed.
The commissioning comes just one day ahead of the International Day of the Midwife (5 May), highlighting the critical role midwives and frontline health workers play in Zambia’s healthcare system.
Speaking at the event, SolidarMed Zambia Country Director, Ms. Kupela Clark, emphasised the human impact of the investment:
“Today is not about buildings; it is about people the students who will serve their communities, the health workers who save lives every day, and the millions of Zambians who will benefit from improved access to care.”
Over the past decade, the decentralised training model has been developed in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Zambia. By placing learning directly within rural communities, the model enables students to gain practical experience in the environments where they will later serve.
Independent evaluations indicate that graduates of this model demonstrate strong clinical competencies, are well prepared for rural practice, and are significantly more likely to work in underserved areas. Currently, more than 60 percent of graduates from this model are deployed in rural facilities, compared to less than 40 percent from traditional training pathways.
By 2026, the model is expected to produce over 2,000 additional nurses and midwives annually, improving access to healthcare for more than two million Zambians each year. We know this model works. It is strengthening the quality, relevance, and distribution of Zambia’s health workforce,” Ms. Clark added.
The initiative reflects strong collaboration between the Government and its development partners. The Swiss Government, through SDC, provides key support, while SolidarMed Zambia contributes technical expertise and programme implementation.
“This partnership reflects a shared commitment that every Zambian, wherever they live, deserves access to a skilled nurse or midwife.”
The commissioning of these laboratories represents a scalable model for national health workforce development and a critical step toward achieving Universal Health Coverage in Zambia.
Issued by:
Communication and Public Relations Unit
Ministry of Health