Minister of Health Sylvia Masebo has disclosed that Lusaka City is among seven districts countrywide where COVID-19 vaccination coverage is below the target set by the Government.
Ms. Masebo said Zambia still has districts with COVID-19 vaccination coverage below the target and range between 56 and 69%.
She named the other six districts where COVID-19 vaccination coverage is below the target as Lumezi, Lunte, Nsama, Petauke, Vubwi and Chama.
In a ministerial statement on the Covid situation in Zambia made in Parliament, Ms. Masebo said the vaccination campaign to ensure the population remains protected is ongoing and currently the country is at 80.1%.
“The house may wish to recall that on Tuesday 14th February 2023, the Honourable Speaker directed that a Ministerial Statement be issued on the national status with regards to the COVID-19 situation so that as we sit in the house, we are aware of what is happening. This will enable us to implement whatever measures need to be taken to prevent the outbreak of the pandemic. Madame Speaker you may wish to note that our Government through the Ministry of Health working closely with the Zambia National Public Health Institute through a multisectoral approach is currently responding to outbreaks of measles, cholera and scabies, in addition to the on-going COVID-19 epidemic in various parts of the country. We are also on high surveillance alert for polio following the isolation of circulating polio virus in sewer samples from Kitwe (2) and Mufulira (2) on the Copperbelt and the current outbreaks in Malawi, Mozambique and the DRC. We also report a notable increase in clinically diagnosed mumps. The patients are all treated accordingly,” Ms. Masebo said.
She highlighted the latest statistics regarding COVID-19.
“Allow me to remind this august house that the Government of the Republic of Zambia, through the able leadership of the President His Excellency Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, attaches great importance to securing the health of the nation. Zambia has been in a response mode to COVID-19, since the 18th of March 2020 when the country recorded its first two cases. Since then all districts have been affected and now the country is going through its 4th wave. As of the 15th of February 2023, the nation had recorded a cumulative total of 342,511 cases, 813 of whom are currently active and a total of 4,053 deaths. To note is that a total of 23 COVID-19 deaths have been reported in 2023.
Of the 813 currently with active infection 10 are hospitalised with 4 needing oxygen, while the rest are under home management. We have seen a reduction in the positivity over the last few weeks from the highest of 8% in the week of 9th– 15th January 2023 to the current 3.9%,” she said.
“The vaccination campaign to ensure the population remains protected is ongoing and currently the country is at 80.1%. However, we still have districts with COVID-19 vaccination coverage below the target and range between 56 and 69%. The 7 districts include Lumezi, Lunte, Nsama, Lusaka, Petauke, Vubwi and Chama. The teams under the Ministry of Health with Zambia National Public Health Institute are continuing with active case finding and follow up of contacts. In addition, those under home management and eligible to receive the medicine that reduces the chances of disease progressing to severe illness, are receiving this medication in various Health Facilities across the country,” Ms. Masebo said.
Ms. Masebo reiterated that COVID-19 was still in transmission.
“Allow me to remind the house that COVID-19 transmission while not so high now is ongoing. We have noted that the majority of persons who we hospitalise are those not vaccinated and, or, have other underlying conditions. Our aim therefore is to safeguard such persons from severe infections. To the members of the public through you Madam Speaker, I wish to reiterate that COVID-19 is still in transmission. It is important therefore, that while we have eased off restrictions on congregate settings and socialisation, the members of the public are encouraged to follow all public health measures that will protect them from disease. As I conclude, allow me to make a clarion call to all stakeholders and that is to remain committed and play their role in ensuring we are able to adequately enhance community engagement and get our populations adequately vaccinated when required as well as remaining adherent to suggested public health and social interventions,” Ms. Masebo stated.
During our rule, we were making progress with vaccines because the people trusted us. Hh came in and has procured vaccines from his colonial masters in West. The very same people who prefer to see africa fail. They will kill you haha don’t take those vaccines
Look at this UK based Impostor only a few years ago it was in the forefront telling people to take these covid-19 vaccines.
Keep up the good work Lusaka dont inject yourselves with these poisons….just a few years ago in the US and Europe you couldnt fly without the authorities wanting to know if you took the jab now if you go to hospital and ask the doctor whether someone who has passed away did take the vaccine for some reason the doctors refuse to declose that information…why? The culling has began…alot of people are dying now of “natural causes” who were jabbed.