Ndola, Zambia- 10th October 2023- Dangote Cement Zambia is pleased to extend a helping hand by donating 1200 bags of cement (60 metric tons) to the second largest health care facility in the country, Ndola Teaching Hospital, to aid in the construction of 1.4km of concrete roads and car park. This timely donation is the first major facelift of the road infrastructure at the Level 3 Referral hospital which was officially opened in 1972 and currently has a catchment population of over 1.3 million people in Northern Zambia.
The project, which began early this year, is a welcomed development by the management and staff of the institution who are grateful to the community for ensuring pledges are actualized such as this donation being spearheaded by His Royal Highness Senior Chief Chiwala in conjunction with The Friends of Ndola Teaching Hospital. It aims to improve the provision of health care services as the previous road was extremely worn out, inconveniencing patients and visitors accessing the hospital. The poor condition of the road adversely affected the delivery of vital medical services such as laboratory tests and made the ambulance drive to the hospital a lamentable one.
At the handover ceremony at the Biomedical College Lecture Theatre located at the hospital, Dangote Cement Zambia CEO Mr. Vipul Agrawal said “As a Ndola based company, we saw it fit to participate in the road construction efforts because of our dedication to improving the lives of the community we are in and our commitment to leading the charge in areas of sustainability and environmental conservation. We also offered technical support for this project that will see this vital road infrastructure last at least 50 years.”
Numerous African countries such as South Africa, Nigeria and Zimbabwe are adopting concrete roads as an alternative to asphalt due to their exceptional durability which in the long run lowers maintenance costs especially in failed road sections within the southern region which are prone to excessive precipitation. These views are supported by the International Society for Concrete Pavements (2017) which asserted that they could be the “panacea for potholes in Zimbabwe” where asphalt has consistently failed to last more than 10 years. Furthermore, concrete’s composition primarily relies on abundant materials like limestone, underscoring its status as an environmentally sustainable choice.
Mr. Agrawal further stated that, “We believe that by supporting this project, not only are we fulfilling our role in national development, but we are also showcasing how the use of concrete in road construction works could be key in road projects being undertaken in the country.”
Speaking on behalf of the Friends of Ndola Teaching Hospital, the Ndola District Commissioner, Mr. Joseph Phiri thanked Dangote for the donation stating that “It will go a long way in creating a positive effect in the community knowing that the second largest hospital in the country has a reliable internal road network and carpark that will help in conveniently accessing the health facility.” The donation is an invaluable contribution that ameliorates the hospital’s ongoing efforts to enhance its infrastructure. This is not only a testament to the acceptance of concrete roads by public institutions but also underscores the company’s unwavering dedication to advancing sustainability, resource efficiency, and the betterment of the community it serves