The Human Rights Commission has observed that while some people are observing health guidelines on COVID-19, social distancing largely remains a challenge, particularly in public service institutions, public places and public service vehicles such as buses.
Commission spokesperson Mwelwa Muleya notes that further, some essential workers have not been provided with adequate Personal Protective Equipment, a situation that is compromising their rights to health and life.
Mr Muleya said this is of great concern to the Commission because failure to adhere to the guidelines and providing Personal Protective Equipment to those in the frontline of fighting the coronavirus could reverse the progressive achievements being made towards containing the spread of COVID-19 and this can have far-reaching consequences on the country at large.
He said the right to life is linked to public health and it is absolutely neccessry that all stakeholders, including employers, continue to abide by the public health guidelines during thisdifficult period of fighting the coronavirus pandemic in order to save lives.
Mr Muleya has appealed to everyone to continue adhering to the prescribed guidelines because they are necessary for the greater good.
He said it is important to appreciate the fact that although the guidelines such as restrictions on public gatherings may have caused negative socio-economic effects, such measures have a legitimate objective of promoting public health and protecting life.
Mr Muleya said that there is also need for targeted measures aimed at mitigating such negative effects of the guidelines on the public, particularly on the vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities, the elderly, child and female headed-households and others with underlying health conditions.
These idyots at it again, with copying from white people. So you want Zambian doctors and nurses go strike so they get fired?
Zambia has a lot of equipment, even HH had opportunity to buy and give away.
Nostradamus,which hh can buy the equipments? The hh we know wakaso ask gbm who said he likes flitters but he eats them from his bedroom. Ask hon tayali who said the man is donatin yebo soap
And yet they tell us 4 days and no new Corona case really? Are we serious with tackling this virus? They were ready to come to our personal homes to test us for HIV and yet not doing enough to test people in those identified areas in Lusaka that could be affected by now. What is the actual number of people tested for covid-19 in Zambia. Don’t just rush into glorifying the useless health minister when he hasn’t even started doing the job.
It was good watching my brother lusambo being interviewed by my other brother Costa. This is what we like to see. Open dialogue in a democratic country. Things get heated because we all have a passion for this great nation
Most Zambians are saying coronavirus is a Muzungu disease, Mwebena Zambia, where I am, I have watched numbers go from 1 infection to 100,000 infections within three months. Just wait and see what will happen in another 8 weeks time in Zambia, MUKAPAPA SANA! Mr. Kambwili keep it!
Are Zambian medical personnel fighting the same corona virus am seeing on CNN, BBC and all Jazeera, just dress code is making me wonder.
I fear our corruptly recruited doctors will run away on hearing of a suspected Coronavirus case instead of helping.
Corruption breads cowards and criminals. They steal money for PPE and now they are exposed. Muzafa moose just run!