Inadequate transport inhibiting Covid – 19 testing – Health Specialist

A Public Health Specialist has said contact tracing for Covid-19 is still a problem in Lusaka province as result of inadequate transport to follow up cases.

Dr. Bushimbwa Tambatamba said during the Lusaka Province Covid-19 virtue meeting today that officers have airtime and fuel but they have difficulties in repairing the vehicles for use in contact tracing programmes.

She also disclosed that the Provincial Health office is in the process of developing geo mapping system to assist in determining the hot spots for Covid -19 cases and for effective monitoring to be done in reducing the spread of the pandemic.

Lusaka District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) Teddy Chibwe told the meeting that the district received over 30,000 masks to cater for the teachers and the learners.

“We have received 30,000 masks from Disaster Management and Mitigation unit (DMMU) for both the leaners and teachers, we also have enough washing points in various school premises” he said.

However, Mr Chibwe pointed out that most Schools in his district have inadequate desks and the scenario has resulted in difficulties to maintaining social distance among the leaners.

He noted that learners from early childhood education need to sit two on each desk and teachers have been tasked to be monitoring them.

Mr. Chibwe said that the district has come up with two mode of learning such as class rotations and sessions.

“ we have a method were some learners report on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while others come Tuesday and Friday the next week they exchange, we also have split classes into two sessions all this is done to allow social distance” he said.

And Chongwe District Education Board Secretary Joseph Chanda said 95 out of 108 schools have been certified to be conducting lessons.

Mr. Chanda said that the district has also received 15,000 masks meant for primary and community schools.

He noted that the schools are facing difficulties of infrastructure to enhance physical distance among the learners.

Mr. Chanda has since commended the local leadership by providing solutions to cushion the infrastructure constraints in the district.

“ We called upon the community leadership to unlock churches in the communities so that we can implement the class rotation to ensure social distance is maintained, some learners will be occupying churches in the absence of adequate school infrastructure” he noted.