GOVERNMENT has commended the World Bank for giving Zambia U$45 million in order to combat tuberculosis (TB) in the country.
Minister of Health Dr Chitalu Chilufya says the World Bank is a developmental partner with the Zambian government because it is dedicated to eradicate the levels of TB on the Copperbelt and other mining communities in the country.
Speaking during the launch of the Southern Africa Tuberculosis and Health System Support Project held at Sherbourne Hotel today, Dr Chilufya said it was unfortunate that the Copperbelt has the highest number of TB cases which normally emanates from the pollutant substances from mining activities.
The Health Minister said due to heavy mining activities and other mining communities in the country has led to an increase of TB related cases due to the high levels of pollutant emissions from the mines known as Sulphur-dioxide.
Out of 100 000 people on the Copperbelt 1211 are infected with TB a situation.
The minister however despite the statistics are not conducive the Government through the Ministry of Health and other corpora ting partners such as the World Bank.
Dr Chilufya said government is committed to ensure that tuberculosis was eradicated on the Copperbelt and other parts of the country.
He furthermore revealed that the World Bank in collaboration with Zambia, Lesotho, Mozambique and Malawi has approved and initiated a regional project for the four countries in Southern Africa which is called The Southern Africa Tuberculosis and Health Systems Support Project.
The Health Minister also gave a directive to the director of Occupational Health and safety Institute to engage colleagues from other ministries to draft a document on the law to protect the workers who have TB not the archaic laws which discriminate people with TB.
Meanwhile Minister of Labour Joyce Nonde Simukoko has cautioned some mining houses in the country and other companies who have a tendency of discriminating people with TB to stop doing so.
Mrs Simukoko said people with TB should not be sidelined by their employers because they have the right to work because TB is a curable disease.
She said the health of Workers was cardinal for every employee despite having the condition of TB and the employers in various sectors of the economy should embrace them because human capital is important to the growth of the country.
And Speaking at the same function World Bank health Specialist Ronald Mutasa said in a speech read for the Country representative Ina Marlene Ruthenberg said the World Bank has a total financial commitment of US$122 Million and will support some of Southern Africa’s high TB burden countries such as Lesotho, Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia.
Ms Ruthenberg said the World Bank support to the Southern Africa Tuberculosis and Health Systems Support project, is in recognition of efforts by policy makers and political leadership in the SADC.
“In Zambia, the key implementing agencies for the Southern Tuberculosis and Health Systems Support project will be the ministry of Health, Ministry of Mines, Ministry of Labour and Occupational Health and Safety Institute (OHSI).
Ahhh we get some money again,something for pockets?
I wonder~you are right. The entire $45 million will go into the pockets & gluttonous bellies of PF bandits. Zero dark thirty for TB patients.
This PF of visionless Dagama is a spendthrift regime without fiscal policies. PF bandits are squandering $2million just to ask people to the regrettable exit from ICC by Zambia is really mediocrity of the highest rank!The blind PF bandits should also withdraw Zambia from World Bank, IMF or WTO~simply b’coz these institutions target poor & hungry stricken states~like PF’s illusions of ICC.
How much is mealie meal PF bandits today after visionless Lungu had a “fruitful meetings with millers”~LT:2017, Januar~ months ago?
The Skeleton Key
~206~
I Wonder & Skeleton
Can’t agree with you more. This money, just like AIDS money, will be stolen. We have too many kleptomaniacs in government.
A country where the government sees fit to spend 2million just to decide on something which they have already decided and is just a mere formality so that it looks like they consulted Zambians about leaving icc. Meanwhile Zambia has to get assistance to deal with TV issues in 2017. Anyway the mugs are these international organisation who keep giving millions which are been used by Lungu and cronies to amass personal health. Lungu will die for what he has done.
Tb issues
Do these ministers have any gray matter in their skulls? As an employer, would you employ a person with TB? Hell no. But if one of my employees contract TB in the period of employment, there should laws to help such people as they take their treatment BEFORE being allowed back to work. TB treatment takes more than 6 months and one cannot continue paying salaries to such patients. The government should have mechanisms for statutory sick pay for patients on long-term treatment and should not be the responsibility of employers especially in small firms.
Alot of theory with no practical base.
TB demands alot of grass root community care. For example, going around the community homes taking tb test for every resident who has been exposed to TB patients.
People might face difficults in visiting healthcare care settings due to poverty reasons. Why not having mobile laboratory services especially for TB prevention and CD4 check ups? Principles of confidentiality should be well preserved while taking such sensitive information within home environment. Principles of confidentiality qualities are very poor in Zambian Health Care Settings. Still far from Health Promotion on general. The proper use of that money demands discipline and true consideration of the target group.
Lt you took my post off when i said that that is a disease caused by bacteria. What a joke minister for health says caused by mining and sulphur dioxde. You LT embarras ypurself and the Minister has embarrzsed zambia. Bet this wont be posted Selective posting censorship of the free press.. welcome to zambia.
Has the zambian censor, Amos, advised you not to post blogs that show up ministers. How many blogs does he write for you.
LT are you serious about Zambia or just your stomachs. This tyle of censorship is reprehensible
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