Government says the requirement for Zambians to show proof of valid yellow fever vaccinations before entering into other countries has economic and political implications.
Health Permanent Secretary Dr Peter Mwaba says the designation of Zambia being a low risk yellow fever country was based on the sero-prevalence surveys conducted between 1940 and 1950.
He said it is for this reason that World Health Organization (WHO) is giving both financial and technical support to Ministry of Health to carry out a yellow fever assessment.
The Health Permanent Secretary said this in a speech read on his behalf by Copperbelt Province Medical Officer Dr Changwe Ngandwe.
This was during the official opening of a Risk Assessment of Yellow Fever training for North-western and Western provinces held at Sankananji Lodge in Ndola yesterday.
Dr Mwaba said the yellow fever assessment is also important as Zambia prepares to co-host the United Nations World Trade Conference (UNWTO) in August 2013 especially that Zambia is borders with countries that are established yellow fever endemic.
He said government therefore attaches great importance not only to the final outcome of the assessment but also the process by which the outcome is going to be derived, adding that if the process is flawed the findings will not be credible.
He urged the participants to take the training seriously and to be determined to be professional in the conduct of the survey.
And speaking at the same function, WHO country officer for Disease Prevention and Control Dr Peter Songolo said over 120 000 US dollars has been put into the program.
Dr Songolo said the role of WHO was to support the country to conduct a risk assessment in areas where yellow fever was reported.
He said the active assessment survey of yellow fever is being conducted in areas where yellow fever was reported in the past and that about 70 000 us dollars have so far been spent.
ZANIS
Editors note: We regret the previous misleading headline and apologize for any inconvenience or panic caused
Dr. MWABA
Dr. PETER
Dr. CHANGWE NGANDWE
Dr. PETER SONGOLO
Dr. SONGOLO
You forgot to mention Dr. Chaos.
SOME HEADLINES ARE REALLY MISLEADING!!!!!!!!!!
My thoughts as well. I quickly stopped what I was doing thinking now we are at risk only to find the story is totally different. Lusaka Times!!!!!!
Forgive them. These are not reporters. They are just people learning how to write articles. Mostly it’s copy and paste no wonder you see so many mistakes and confusing headlines.
Noconsistence, what kind of writing!
this paper can be ridiculous sometimes…the heading is different from the story. and so may names referring to one person. is it written in a hurry?
So what are the implications here?
i agree with numbala #1. we hear the same story with no solution. Nigeria had a solution to the same issue with South Africa within a week but us it is going to take years because we fear South Africa. yes add Dr Chaos & Dr Passive etc to the list
Hey you, focus on the story. Those things you are talking about do not matter. Lets dedate this study of yellow fever. Why do want to dwell on trivial matters of spellings and alike. Nothing to comment shutb up. Now, coming to the topic, i think its right time we get a clear picture about this yellow fever thing and i do support Dr. Mwala, his team at the Ministry and the sponsors of the study. We need the resluts soon becuase this requirement of yellow fever cerfication is a drain on national resources.
check your Results and because. do not write like me. Yellow fever is serious issue when travelling to other countries. We need verification about it. Sponsors. You Dr Fimo Fimo don’t recruit you family members to do this study. Advertise…..
Dr Kafue how did Nigeria solve the issue of yellow fever with South Africa?
Copperbelt Provincial Medical Officer’s name is Dr Chandwa Ng’ambi and not Changwe Ngandwe. Ba LT, research please. Your story today is pathetic.
This LT paper is serioulsy stupid
I worked for the Ministry of Health for several years. During the time, I never came across a known case of yellow fever in my practice. Either we overlooked the disease, or our diagnostic tools were inadequate or the disease simply did not “exist” in Zambia. I lean more towards the latter.