First lady Esther Lungu has urged expectant mothers to desist from using herbal medicines and seek conventional medicines.
Mrs Lungu says heavy dependency on herbs causes a lot of medical complications to unborn babies.
Speaking when she visited Nyimba District Hospital, Mrs Lungu expressed concern that a number of expectant mothers prefer taking herbs instead of going to health facilities for medical treatment.
And the First lady urged the health workers at the hospital to work hard in providing quality health care services to the people despite the many challenges facing health facilities across the country.
Earlier, Nyimba Hospital doctor in-Charge Mubbuna Malambo said the biggest challenges to maternal health is that most expectant mothers seek antenatal services when their pregnancies are in advanced stages making it difficult for health workers to treat them.
Dr. Malambo also noted that the Nyimba District Hospital does not offer specialized medical services and that complicated cases are referred to Katete’s St. Francis Mission Hospital.
And the first lady visited the newly constructed Edgar Chagwa Lungu Bridge in Hofmeyre area where she expressed happiness that the people in the area have honoured her husband and family by naming the bridge after the President.