Copperbelt Province Permanent Secretary Rev. Howard Sikwela has instructed all councils in the province to urgently and vigorously address the issue of dog bites by enforcing the dog control Act.
Rev. Sikwela said Copperbelt province is still grappling with the problem of increased cases of dog bites because most dogs are unvaccinated and that this could result in the spread of rabies.
ZANIS reports that Rev. Sikwela said this in a speech read on his behalf by Provincial Deputy Permanent Secretary Elias Kamanga during the second Copperbelt provincial epidemics preparedness, prevention, management and control encompassing health infrastructure meeting in 2016 held in Ndola yesterday.
“I am cognisant of the fact that we still have cases of typhoid, dysentery and chicken pox being recorded in some districts. From now onwards we need “to walk the talk.” With this instruction I hope to see a reduction in dog bites in the province as it is costly to procure anti-rabies vaccines.
Rev. Sikwela said in most health facilities there are a high number of non-communicable diseases which are being recorded and these include hypertension, diabetes and cancer.
He reiterated the call by Vice President Inonge Wina to continue promoting healthy life styles by exercising and not smoking in public places as a measure to control non-communicable diseases.
He observed that the province has a high number of maternal deaths that are occurring in health institutions and at community level.
There is need to urgently address the problem by doing all that is necessary with other partners to ensure that no woman dies while giving life saying child bearing is supposed to be a safe and natural processes notwithstanding a few challenges that may occur at times, said the permanent secretary.
He has since implored the provincial medical officer to thoroughly investigate any maternal death in the province and apply the appropriate responses to mitigate against further deaths.
The purpose of the meeting is to promote collaboration and synergies in the preparedness, prevention, management and control of disease outbreaks in our province as it affords an opportunity to measure the effectiveness as well as the efficiency of the interventions that we have undertaken in response to the epidemics that could have occurred from within the province or may occur as a result of the rain season or disease threats that could be coming from outside our province.
Bowman is a hard worker and has a vision for the Copperbelt both rural and urban. Teach the PS to think like you ..think Zambian and not PF. Every one on the Copperbelt belongs to you bwana Bowman, accommodate them they may have ideas that you can use. I wished every one in PF could think like you. Leaders must be inclusive and that is what you are. Ignore rascals in PF who think they are above the law.
Even though Bowman is not an original PF supporter/ member like myself- I have to say so far so good ba mwishoi! Keep it up! Be transparent and work for the people not to enrich yourself like what so of our old timer members have been doing- they have shamed PF- they know themselves!
Even though Bowman is not an original PF supporter/ member like myself- I have to say so far so good ba mwishoi! Keep it up! Be transparent and work for the people not to enrich yourself like what some of our old timer members have been doing- they have shamed PF- they know themselves!
Copperbelt PS, try to work on the roads in Luanshya town. My heart bleeds when I how see some major roads being left out. If Zambia has to perform well in agriculture you need to work on roads used by farmers, especially roads passing major rivers e.g the road which passes Kafubu river from Roan/ Mpatamatu mine area going to Lumpuma going to Mine. This road is a shortest route from Roan/ Mpatamatu mine areas to Mpongwe, Kitwe,& Luanshya. Kindly take a tour and you see my point of view. We are all Zambian, and so we need to enjoy the fruits of our independence.