UPND Leader Hakainde Hichilema says he has learned with sadness that five health workers have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Mr. Hichilema says the government owes it to medical staff on the frontline of this pandemic to do the right thing and provide the necessary protective equipment.
He said during this challenging time, healthcare staff should be equipped and supported so that they can deliver the right level of care for patients.
“Our thoughts and prayers go to you all our health workers who are working tirelessly to combat this deadly pandemic”, he said.
Mr. Hichilema encouraged those that have tested positive for the pandemic to remain positive and never lose hope in the fight against the pandemic.
Yesterday, Health Minister Dr. Chitalu Chilufya said that five health workers at Levy Mwanawasa Hospital tested positive to COVID-19, out of the 322 test done in the last 24 hours bringing the total cases to 70.
Dr. Chilufya disclosed that the health workers in isolation facilities were tested as part of the routine medical surveillance program after two weeks of duty placement, bringing the total number of affected health workers to 8 who have all since been placed in designated isolation facilities.
Dr. Chilufya further said that President Edgar Lungu has since regretted the sad development and wished the health workers a quick recovery and assured them of his full support.
“In order to minimize the risk of health care workers contracting COVID-19 through exposure in the work environment, we are instituting the following additional stringent measures: Retraining of all staff in Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practices, assignment of a dedicated senior staff member to enforce compliance to IPC measures, increasing the buffer stock of personal protective equipment (PPE), to guarantee the availability of sufficient PPE supplies for all staff at all times and thorough and regular decontamination of all surfaces,” Dr Chilufya said.
“I would love to encourage and urge the health workers to remain strong as we stand with you and we are confident that you will recover. We encourage you to put in your level best and as a government, we will continue to improve your welfare” Dr. Chilufya assured.
Meanwhile, Dr Chilufya announced that Emmasdale and Chaisa are earmarked for massive screening and increased disinfection of public places such as markets and bus stations and disclosed that 15,000 face masks will be handed to an established consortium for distribution to market traders.
He urged and reiterate that everyone should escalate levels of hygiene and follow the presidential directive to adhere to social distancing and avoid traveling into Lusaka and emphasized the need to wear masks, exercise social distancing and avoid other unnecessary travels in areas which have become hotspots.
Melinda Gates said “they will be bodies lying everwhere on the streets in Africa”. I can easily imagine that Zambia will be one of those countries in Africa that will smell like a morgue in the coming months.. you’ll better start preparing the mass graves if you haven’t. By the way, the PF face masks are very useless. If you can smell the sewerage all over Lusaka, that means you can breathe in the covid-19 through the thin PF chitenge material
Medical stores is fully packed with uniforms groves etc. Wonder why government is waiting for “green” groves and scrubs written ECL 2021.
This nigga wore a mask during his press briefing and everyone including nonentities like tayali castigated him. Where are we now?
Trible HH specialises in copy and paste, that is what I told the party and its government on monday this week.
And when he cuts and pastes, he barely takes times to understand the meaning, so coming out as clueless.
Yaba! Zambian politicians, all clueless!! Yes I said ALL.
Mr HH do you think Government can allow Covid 19 frontline health workers to work without protective kits?
Or did you see ANY..? The best you would have say that health workers on Covid 19 frontline should be extremely careful to avoid getting the virus.
Otherwise,Doctors and other NHS personnel have died of the Covid 19 in several countries as they execute their duties.
Have you been to any hospital in Zambia or you’re just assuming? Healthcare workers have no PPE across the country. Speak to any doctor or nurse and they’ll confirm first hand
HH has been on point on convid 19. His haters have just been exposing themselves.When he masked during his press conferences cadres were all over each other demeaning him.Guess what he was right .Bottom line is the man examines existing scientific evidence objectively.Health workers catching the virus while caring for convid 19 cases is a bad sign.It means the workers are not fully protected.Whose negligence is this in this sad reality?Yes Bowman Lusambo is right too in enforcing masking in public.I dont agree with him on all issues but on masking and breaking up risky gatherings and parties keep it up man.President Lungu needs unfiltered messages from the front line on convid 19 fight.Interact directly with the citizens especially the front line health workers because nicely crafted…
Mr. Hyena Hyena, are you aware that doctors have died in other countries. Learn to reason before you post anything HH. America has the best facilities in the world but health workers are dying. Why is everything so strange to you HH.
This man’s leadership does not inspire at all. It’s the same old predictable garbage that comes from his mouth. He has become an expert in crying rather than doing. On such article you won’t see as many angry diasporans because majority of them are upnd dreamers who believe they will come back to Zambia when their demigod wins. Unfortunately the chap will never lead this country. He can continue chairing meetings in diaspora hahs
(HH) ignorant prick stop being an alarmist. How can Health Staff work without PPE? Your slaves at your farm have never seen PPE.
That’s why GBM called you “kabiyeni uko naka HH kachi kala kenu”
Mr kudos hahah exactly. His workers at ngombe ilede don’t have ppe
Out of 322 tested 5 are positive, the pace at which scanning is taking place is what worries me as concerned citizen. There is need to scan the entire nation so that we can have proper information otherwise we are at war with a vicious attack
Hichilema is a front runner with very poor leadership credentials. His comment suggests that GRZ hasn’t provided adequate PPE to health care service providers. I doubt this fact because the info I have is that the cause of infection isn’t due to the inadequate PPE supply. A person who aspires for leadership must be factual in their statements otherwise no sane person can take them seriously. Several friends that work at Levy Mwanawasa Teaching Hospital are surprised by Hichilema’s statement. The question is how is he contributing to the governance of the country? No wonder most people just ignore him. This is indicative that HH and his tandem of tribal zealots aren’t ready for higher office, no wonder Nawakwi refers to him as Kadansa
Medical doctors and care givers have died in more advanced countries than Zambia. Please do not make us think the unfortunate situation is unique to Zambia. The medics at C19 centre are dressed up for the occasion but there is no guarantee with the virus. Ask medics in the UK and China
No normal person can defend or support the government at the moment, there is nothing that they have done to fight Covid 19 apart from the basic. who ever is opposing what HH said, should go to any clinic within lusaka and ask nurses or doctor if they have any PPE. In most cases health works are buying even simple mask on thier own. If i may ask where is the president of this country to show leadership and the love for people? If this was election time he could be jumping all over, but when we need him most as the father of the nation is no where to be seen .
Kainde is very boring indeed!!kkkkkkk….i wonder what goes on in his head……kkkkkk…may be he thinks that Zambia has two governments….kkkkk….this man will die from BP!!All Zambians are able to see how protected front health workers are.Govnt has provided everything to them!!Look HH,even in developed countries,health workers are dying from COVID-19!!So keep quiet if you are bored and have nothing to say!!PF Govnt a splendid work concerning COVID-19 and we are all happy except you who dreams about state house 24/7!!COVID-19 has rendered HH’s daily politics of name calling useless…kkkkk!!God bless Zambia and protect us all from COVID-19!!
There are some Zambians that will not stop at anything to see a better Zambia. Their main aim is to strive and benefit from a suffering nation like parasites and ticks till their host is no more. KZ fits into this category and tracing his persona leads one to nothing other than a PEP – parasite.
COVID-19 is a big concern to all of us, more so some of us with spouces who are medically inclined. I have never in my seen my beautiful hard workiing wife so terrified in the past 24 years of our marriage. To see the health pillar of the family in such low moods is of great concern. I mean, she has seen any part of the human body. She comes home in great mood even after coming from the theatre. Nowadays, I see her very tensed up when she is usually a very calm person. The sign on this soldier’s face tells me we are in for a fierce battle with a terrible invisible enemy. I am positive that together we will win. What is saddening though is the fact that some low lifers are making fun and jokes out of this serious issue. Others are even buying in political mileage out of this situation…
This man has a damaged brain, world Health Personnel are just like any other human being who are getting sick of this disease…
please spare us from your tantrums…!!!!
i think fairness is important the fight against the COVID19 is not political therefore HH as the 2021 President elect is right to make that comment on PPE.
Hh no respect for my province, lusaka
these have adopted the name itself. you will make many people to die , stop politising there is no time. world over you are known for failure to understand things quickly. distribute those materials meant for people to protect themselves. dont forget this virus will not respect the green or the red.
H² is a couple of steps behind.
Doesn’t he sound $illy?
HH is usually petty but he is right in this case. If you ask doctors that are on the frontlines in zambia they will tell you that they dont have enough protective gear.
More advanced countries with protective gear have seen a hit on their docs. Why should we put our few docs at an even higher risk with things we can avoid
This hh of yours is a political nonentite,
Mr Hichilema, the government is already doing it. Doctors and health care workers are being taken good care of. Zambia stands with the life saviours. The government has already scaled up the safety level for the front line Civid19 warriors. This is not the time to politicise every issue. As the government is tirelessly working to protect people and doctors, your intentions are clear. Don’t politicise every issue. It will not help you in any way. On the contrary, you are exposing yourself.
@ Chitunga, tell this Chintombwa SOB that he is always behind when it comes to any matters. No wonder he is the longest saving opposition leader. In Countries that he continues to praise eg USA, when someone loses an election once or twice, they resign and let others try.
hh tesana elyo kuwayawayafye. I don’t understand if he talks to his handlers before he opens his mouth. Chansoni sana.
@ Chester
Your last sentence best describes the bum called Ha Ha! Buffoon!!