BEYOND THE GROUND-BREAKING — WHAT THE UTH WATER RETICULATION PROJECT MEANS FOR HEALTHCARE DELIVERY IN ZAMBIA

By Pauline Ngozoh

The ground-breaking ceremony for the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) Water Reticulation Project officiated by the Minister of Health, Hon. Prof. Roma Chilengi, yesterday may have been brief, but its implications are far-reaching.

The project provides an opportunity to examine a long-standing structural challenge that has quietly affected healthcare delivery at Zambia's largest referral hospital.

Established in 1934, UTH has a bed capacity of 1,655 and a catchment of approximately 2 million people. For years, its water supply was not guaranteed.

According to official records from the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation, UTH was supplied water for 18 hours daily (05:00hrs to 23:00hrs) through LWSC, with the remaining 7 hours used to build water levels at Stuart Park Reservoirs. During that gap, the hospital depended on receiving reservoirs of 1,600 cubic metres and ward-level tanks. As a result, only certain wards had constant supply, while others experienced erratic access due to structural and network limitations.

While Government moved to 24/7 supply from mid-June 2022 and activated emergency works in June 2025 — including pipeline reconfiguration, isolating leaking ground reservoirs and operationalising boreholes at Libala well field — a permanent solution was still required.

That response came yesterday. Hon. Prof. Chilengi, who had instructed UTH Management during his tour on 8th October 2026 to urgently rehabilitate the water reticulation system, officiated the ground-breaking for the K69.7 million project.

The project, fully financed by the Government and implemented by LWSC over 12 months, involves construction of a dedicated supply line from Libala Water Works, rehabilitation of the internal network, installation of alternative energy on boreholes to ensure supply during power outages, and replacement of ageing infrastructure.

The significance of the project extends beyond engineering. Reliable water is critical for infection prevention and control, surgical services, maternity care, laundry, kitchen services and overall hygiene in a hospital setting.

By investing in water security at UTH, Government is addressing a fundamental determinant of quality healthcare. It is a shift from emergency fixes to long-term resilience — and a demonstration that health system strengthening begins with basic infrastructure.

In that sense, yesterday's ceremony was not just about pipes and tanks. It was about restoring dignity to healthcare delivery.