Minister of Community Development and Social Services, Ms Doreen Mwamba and the  Permanent Secretary, Ms Angela Kawandami today toured the Matero After Care Centre to inspect on-going construction works meant to refurbish the facility.

The duo inspected the ablution block, the kitchen and other buildings to appreciate the good workmanship on the progress made so far.

The renovations are being done with support from the Trade Kings Foundation.

The Minister said it would be paramount that the centre is constructed in conformity with good standards that will give the people a conducive environment.

Ms Mwamba also encouraged for the chicken run, a garden, a fish pond to be setup, and also called for prioritizing of other social activities to keep the people at the centre busy.

And Matero After Care Centre officer in-charge, Ms Regina Phiri has described the Minister’s tour as motivating and encouraging.

She said in an interview that it is humbling that the Minister has put priority on the Centre, in an effort to uplift the welfare of the people who seek different services there.

“Remember the Minister spent her Christmas at the Centre last year just to interact with the people and share her love” Ms Phiri said, with a pledge to work around the clock to make sure the centre is up to standard.

She said the Minister’s recommendations for the centre to come up with social activities and empowerment initiatives will equally be top of the agenda.

Matero After-Care Centre was established in 1965 under Chainama Hill mental Health Hospital, and was meant for the mental health users upon discharge while waiting for review, re-integration and/or repatriation.

The Centre was later handed over to the then Ministry of Labour and Social Development and catered for the old people only.

The Centre is a transit home and is now managed by the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services under the Department of Social Welfare. In addition to the mental health users, the centre also caters for other disability groups such as the Visually impaired, speech and hearing impaired and physical disabilities.

Other vulnerable persons include, the elderly and unsupported women, chronically ill patients, stranded persons waiting for repatriation and ex-prisoners.