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The National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA) is this month embarking on registering the informal sector.
This expansion to cover the informal sector is in pursuit of the insurance authority’s mandate to register every Zambian and established residents on the universal health scheme.
NHIMA Director-General James Kapesa said in Katete district that the scheme will enable the members of the public across all sectors to have quick access to quality health care.
“Starting this month NHIMA will start registering the informal sector, this province is rich in agriculture supported by an army of peasant farmers, we have to cover our peasant farmers so that they can access good quality health care,” he said.
NHIMA Director was speaking when he toured St Francis Mission Hospital in Katete District of Eastern Province.
Currently, NHIMA only covers employees under the formal who are contributing about 1 percent of their monthly allowance to the health insurance authority.
Mr Kapesa observed that for the institution to undertake the registration of the informal sector, it will be using a mobile-based application to assess the income of people under this sector.
He further added that the institution will also be using mobile phone platforms for the public in the informal sector to remit a very small portion of the money they make every day, weekly or monthly.
“For farmers, we are also going to design the scheme that make sure that we come and collect money from you when you have harvested or when you have sold so that you make one big payment the whole year or one small payment the whole year which the scheme can now divide into 12 installments, so no one will be left behind,” Mr Kapesa said.
Meanwhile, St Francis Mission Hospital Medical Superintendent (MS) Lalick Banda notes that NHIMA contributed positively to the running of the mission hospital.
He explained the hospital have benefited from NHIMA in almost all the five pillars health services that include the Infrastructure, human resource, commodities or logistics, equipment and health financing.
“From the NHIMA funding and government funding, the services at the hospital have improved, we have about a 50 percent increment in the resources that we need,” Mr Kapesa said.
Earlier, the Director-general paid a courtesy call on the Katete District Health Director Abel Shawa, who reported that beneficiaries of NHIMA are happy with the insurance scheme.
However, Dr Shawa appealed to the institution to come up with means to easily relay the message on the scheme to an ordinary person.
Women’s History Museum has launched a creative call to collaborate with Zambian artists in various disciplines to develop creative products inspired by the research the museum is doing on original Zambian objects and artefacts in partnership with the National Museum of World Culture in Sweden
In line with our mission to cultivate cultural heritage preservation and our partnership with the National Museum of World Culture’s in Sweden we conceived the Shared Histories project, which is a collaborative digital platform centred around cultural object repatriation through digital means and works to address the gap in cultural knowledge by providing and increasing accessibility to Zambian cultural objects which have over centuries found their way outside of their communities of origin and thus have been inaccessible to most. The experiences and contributions of owners of heritage and objects have been erased from the mainstream socio-economic and cultural history in Zambia as a result of the country’s colonial legacy and post-colonial tensions.
Fabric-ATED Stories is a programme which looks to empower creatives engaged in media, art, music, graphic design, fashion design and creative writing through a mentorship programme which seeks to aid in the development of original creative work and products inspired by these objects. The selected creative and their original products will be part of an international exhibition at The National Museum of World Cultures in Sweden, as well as in The Women’s History Museum of Zambia ([email protected]) The application process is as follows: Creatives need to email the Women’s History Museum with their portfolio and a sample of their work between the 3rd and 17th of March 2021. Successful applicants will be contacted by a representative of the organization with further details.
No sooner had Zambia Under-17 settled down at the 2021 AFCON U17 in Morocco, than have had to pack their bags to return home.
This follows the sudden cancellation of the 2021 AFCON U17 in Morocco due to the Covid-19.
Zambia arrived in Morocco on Friday where they set up base in Rabat ahead of the March 14 Group A opening game against Cote d’Ivoire.
Below is the full official statement released on Monday night by the Confederation of African Football on the cancellation of the tournament:
The CAF Emergency Committee met on Monday, March 08, 2021 in Rabat, Morocco to decide on the holding of the 2021 U17 Total Africa Cup of Nations.
The Committee was made aware of the constraints faced by some of the participating member associations as well as the host country including the fact that the coronavirus pandemic continues to present significant challenges for the organization of international sporting events.
Taking into account the cancellation by FIFA of the Under-17 World Cup for which the U-17 CAN was no longer qualifying, the Committee further noted:
• The resurgence of the Covid19 pandemic.
• Increased restrictions on international travel
• Uncertainty about the evolution of the situation
For all these reasons, the Committee decided to cancel the 2021 edition of the Total U17 Africa Cup of Nations.
United Party for National Development (UPND) Vice President, Ms Mutale Nalumango has called on women in the country to rise up and demand their rights in order to weather the political storms and injustices they suffer.
This year’s International Women’s Day is being held under the theme: Women In Leadership Achieving An Equal Future In A COVID-19 World
In wishing the women a happy International Women’s Day which falls today, Ms Nalumango reiterated the need for women to demand a safer political playing field that would allow them to freely participate in politics.
“Rise up! Rise up and weather the storm! Demand for your space as the daughters of Manasseh because if you sit quietly, they will forget you. We have signed numerous protocols as a country and one of this protocol calls for us to have 50 per cent in all decision making positions of Government. But do you know that we have a [paltry] 17 per cent women in the Zambian Parliament against the required 50 per cent,” she said.
She stressed that the demands for gender equity and equality both in the country’s political playing field and in society, in general, wasn’t meant to suppress the men, but as a means for moving together.
“We are not saying we will take over from you men. But what we are saying is that we must walk together because you don’t understand how we feel. The woman is the only person who knows what happens in the development of a child in the womb. When human life is hopeless and dependent on the mother: come on and be proud of you. That is a woman. I was only you and me [for nine months],” she said.
She stated that it was gratifying that the world had finally come to appreciate the critical role that women play in the various facets of human endeavours.
“World over, women have been regarded as minors-people who do not grow and do not think. But the world has seen that a woman is a great contributor to development. We keep the home; we keep the peace. When a woman rises, the nation rises,” she said.
She said that it was regrettable that women have for too long been treated as the weaker sex when they were the source of life who understood conception and the pains that comes with it.
“You need a woman to help formulate health policies because I feel what my fellow women feel. On 12th August, we come in and for us its proportional Representation so that the youth and the woman know what per cent is allocated to them in decision-making positions of government.
She has since applauded President Hakainde Hichilema’s fulfilment of the pledge to increase the number of women in the UPND National Management Committee (NMC) to 32 of the 70 members in the highest decision making organ of the party.
Newly appointed UPND Chairperson for Special Duties, William Banda has called on party functionaries to rally behind Ms Nalumango as she delivers her duties as UPND Veep.
“Madam Vice President, Mercy Changwe has said something important…about discipline and protocol. That’s the task I have been given and I will ensure that discipline takes centre-stage in UPND. We are lucky to have Ms Nalumango as the new UPND vice president. Therefore, let’s support her,” said Mr Banda.
Mercy Changwe, who has endured endless, brutal attacks at the hands of the PF, stated that she was saddened that a Government that prides itself in safeguarding the wellbeing of women could allow its caders to continue attacking her unabated.
“I was attacked by PF for displaying UPND regalia on my makeshift stand in Woodlands. These PF cadres have been attacking me for merely being a [fearless] UPND,” she said.
And NDC Lusaka Province Women’s Chairlady Mrs Maureen Sense expressed happiness that the presidential candidate has been identified and it’s Mr Hakainde Hichilema.
“All NDC members who have seen and know the problems have decided to support the UPND alliance because there’s hope in the alliance,” she said
She urged the women in the alliance to work together during the run-up to the August 12 elections.
Last week President Edgar Lungu made a very strange admission, or rather confession: “The public confidence in the police service is low, and it is up to the police, themselves, to regain that confidence by their actions. To this end, there is urgent need for the police service to address these public concerns if the people of Zambia are to regain confidence in them.”
It’s very difficult to disagree with what President Lungu is saying. But there’s one very serious omission: the cause of all this loss of public confidence in police.
It’s the abuse of the police by President Lungu and his followers that has, more than anything else, contributed to this state of affairs. They have turned the police into a wing of the ruling party for use against the opposition and other dissenting voices.
Nothing would be more dangerous than to confuse men and women who are responsible for the maintenance of law and order in our country.
Those in government, therefore, must remember that even for their own good, their fellow citizens in the police must be left to deal with the maintenance of law and order in the way they have been trained.
It’s very dangerous for politicians in the governing party to control the police and make it do their bidding.
In any country where law is deliberately twisted to entrap political opponents and in which police officers act as an extension of the ruling party cadres rather than impartial professional law enforcement officers, there can be nothing but tyranny and a mockery of justice. Let them continue abusing the police now, but let them also remember that when they have left the pinnacle of power what may appear acceptable on others now may taste oppressive. In other words, they should remember that while today it is them at the giving end; tomorrow it may be them at the receiving end.
On the other hand, police officers would greatly help to evolve a fair and impartial police, defend the rule of law and constitutionalism and guarantee the success of our multiparty political dispensation and pluralism, if, individually and collectively, they resolved to discharge their policing obligations without fear or favour.
Dr Kenneth Kaunda gave us very good guidance on this score: “First and foremost must come the quality of impartial fair play for I do not wish my policemen to be partisans to the many political and tribal feuds that may emerge in our country, as has happened in others. The worst policeman so far as I am concerned is that man who will not admonish or arrest another because he is of the same tribe, race or political sympathy. Equally reprehensible is the policeman who will not do his duty for fear that because he is of a different tribe, race or political feeling his deeds will be misunderstood. If you should ever find yourselves in a position of compromise against the principles of fair play and impartiality, then be humble enough to seek God’s guidance because neither the present nor the future generation will forgive you for betraying the many people who have died and suffered in the struggle to bring forth this independent land” (Police Training School, Lilayi – April 15, 1966).
Japan’s Minister of Justice, Yoko Kamikawa says her government will help Zambia strengthen crime prevention and criminal justice systems.
Ms Kamikawa said she is hopeful that the Kyoto declaration on crime prevention and criminal justice will help the two countries engage in justice diplomacy where the rule of law will be of paramount importance.
She said this during a bilateral meeting with Zambia’s Home affairs Minister, Stephen Kapyongo held in Kyoto on the sidelines of the Fourteenth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.
She disclosed that Zambia remains a strategic partner in many areas including prevention of transnational crimes.
And Minister of Home Affairs, Stephen Kampyongo said an increase in collaboration between Zambia and Japan will help the two countries and the world fight ever changing criminalities especially in cyberspace.
Mr Kampyongo said Zambia has made huge investment in national security and is currently passing laws that will help established systems fight sophisticated crimes.
“The government is fully aware of the impact of COVID-19 on crime prevention as these criminals are now using sophisticated means of abusing the cyber space to commit transnational crimes,” he said.
Mr Kampyongo appealed to the Japanese government to help Zambia and many other countries in Africa halt the ongoing swindling of unsuspected people buying cars in Japan online as the trend is denting the image of that country.
Meanwhile, speaking after attending the side congress committees, Inspector General of Police, Kakoma Kanganja disclosed that the Police has put in place mechanisms that will ensure non-selective application of the law and a safe environment before, during and after 2021 general elections.
Mr Kanganja noted that the establishment of advanced national security systems and enactment of new laws will capacitate the Police to deal with criminal activities that might threaten the country’s peace and security.
The Inspector General of Police said the knowledge and trends learnt at the Kyoto Congress will help his office improve the operation of the Police Service.
This was according to a statement issued to ZANIS by First Secretary for Press at Zambian Embassy in Tokyo, Japan, Yotamu Mugara.
A 78 year old man of Chifunabuli district in Luapula Province has committed suicide. Confirming the incident to ZANIS in Chifunabuli, Luapula Province Police Commissioner, Chilije Nyirenda identified the deceased as Luscious Chanda of Chishi Island in Chief Mbulu’s Chiefdom.
Mr Nyirenda disclosed that Chanda took his life by hanging himself to a tree in the bush using a necktie.
He said the incidence was reported to Chifunabuli Police by a 34 year old man identified as Arnold Ntambeni of the same island after the body was discovered hanging to a tree.
Mr Nyirenda revealed that the deceased was accused of bewitching and killing his wife before he committed suicide.
He said Police officers visited the scene and advised the deceased’s relatives to bury him and mark the grave.
Police have apprehended the suspect behind the murder of a teacher in Chifunabuli district, who was robbed of money meant for Social Cash Transfer in January this year.
Christopher Chisote, is suspected to have murdered and robbed Annette Lutanda a teacher at Saashi Primary School of K91, 800.
The deceased was a Social Cash Transfer pay point manager for beneficiaries under the Social Cash Transfer Scheme.
Confirming the arrest to ZANIS in Chifunabuli yesterday, Luapula Province Police Commissioner, Chilije Nyirenda said the suspect was arrested in a residential area in Livingstone.
Mr Nyirenda revealed that after fleeing the crime scene, the suspect sent pictures of himself to one of his relatives about him enjoying life.
He stated that Police used the same number and traced Mr Chisote in Livingstone where he was arrested.
“ Brief facts in the case are that the accused allegedly murdered Ms Lutanda between 14 and 15 January this year and went away with K91, 800 meant for beneficiaries of Social Cash Transfer in Saashi and Mwita communities in Chifunabuli District,” he explained.
Mr Nyirenda further said the suspect has been taken back to Luapula province and has been charged with a case of murder and aggravated robbery.
President Edgar Lungu has paid glowing tribute to Zambian women for the various achievements they have attained at national and personal levels.
President Lungu said he is proud that many Zambian women have raised the country’s profile through the successes they have scored.
The Head of State extolled the women when he officiated virtually during the commemoration of the International Women’s Day celebration in Lusaka, under the theme “Women in leadership: achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world.”
He said the theme celebrates the tremendous efforts being made by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The President pointed out that the theme also advocates for women’s full and effective participation and decision-making in public life, and elimination of violence for attainment of gender equality and empowerment of women and girls.
President Lungu said the women achievers have done the country proud and embodies the spirit of the country’s great women of the freedom struggle and founding mothers such as Mama Julia Chikamoneka, Mama Betty Chilunga, Mama Mary Fulano, and Mama Chibesa Kankasa.
“Unfortunately, we are unable to celebrate this special day in the usual manner all because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But I, myself, will tell you, here and now, that I am so proud of the successes that many Zambian women have made, both at personal and national level,” said President Lungu.
“Not long ago, I was congratulating the effort made by a young Zambian pilot, Thokozile Muwamba, who just completed a 485 kilometre walk from Lusaka to Livingstone in her effort to fight cyber-bullying. That is the positive change we long for,” said President Lungu.
The President noted that presently, there were other women excelling in other fields and sectors such as peace-keeping, engineering, medicine, teaching, politics, farming, and business whose efforts may not be celebrated, but are making a positive impact in society.
The President commended journalists among other women who have been instrumental in the fight against COVID-19, through their awareness campaigns on the pandemic across the country.
He said women are agents of change who need to orient other women and girls to aim high, dream and aspire for leadership positions, in the political and professional world to enhance the country’s development process.
President Lungu praised the efforts of women across the country trying to make ends meet and cater for their families during the challenging times the country is going through.
“I commend you, that woman in Mandevu township, keeping orphaned children and making ends meet through selling groundnuts and maize cobs, my heart goes out to you. I applaud your spirit,” said President Lungu.
The Head of State regretted that the commemoration of the International Women’s Day in 2021 has been marred and by COVID-19 pandemic which the world is battling with.
He saluted the women for playing a pivotal role in combatting the pandemic by being at the frontlines of health care provision and care giving for COVID-19 affected persons and enforcement of COVID-19 prevention measures in homes and communities.
President Lungu said he is saddened that women are failing to participate in leadership and decision making due to continued social barriers which are hindering the actualization of the potential of women in leadership.
“We need to uphold women’s rights and fully leverage the potential of women in leadership in our efforts to achieve our set development,” said President Lungu.
He noted that women play a key role at household and national level hence the need to support and empower them for the development of the family and the nation.
The President said Zambia and the global society has a lot to learn from women’s capacity to carry the burden of care giving in times of disease outbreaks and calamities.
He pointed out that the world is now learning from countries governed by women which have been successful in stemming the tide of the COVID-19 pandemic, and responding to health and broader socio-economic impacts.
Meanwhile, President Lungu said government will continue to work with cooperating partners to coordinate the implementation of various gender mainstreaming and empowerment interventions to ensure women and girls’ rights are promoted and protected.
He named the 50-50 land allocation policy being implemented by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Agricultural Development and Value Chain Enhancement Programme, as well as educational scholarships to vulnerable women and girls, including child marriage survivors among others.
The President said government with support of the European Union, Sweden and Ireland will continue to implement programmes to fight sexual and gender based violence.
From (left) is Justice Minister Given Lubinda, Religious Minister Godfridah Sumaili and Labour Minister Joyce Simukoko during the commemorations of this year’s women’s day in Lusaka.Picture by SUNDAY BWALYA/ZANIS
And speaking earlier at the commemoration of the International Women’s Day in Lusaka, stakeholders called on government and opposition political parties to increase the adoption of women candidates to participate in the August 12 general elections.
The Non-Governmental Gender Organizations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC), Human Rights Commission and the United Nations said there is a growing need to have more women representation in the political arena to help effect social change and enhance women’s leadership role in society.
NGOCC Chairperson, Mary Mulenga said it is unfortunate that 56 years after independence Zambia still has less representation of female leaders in government, parliament and district governance level.
Mrs Mulenga said her organization has developed an election strategy for the adoption of more women and will soon hold a summit for political party presidents to endorse the blueprint in order to attain the Southern African Development Community (SADC) 50-50 parity.
She called on government to establish a gender equity commission to accelerate the mainstreaming of gender in the country.
Human Rights Commission Chairperson, Mackford Mwandenga noted that COVID-19 had caused regression in the attainment of gender equality and has disadvantaged women.
Mr Mwandenga feared that more women are likely to lose employment and their businesses due to the society demands of them being at the frontline of health and care giving as the country battles the COVID-19 pandemic.
He urged government to devise deliberate policies and programmes to create opportunities for women to recover from COVID-19 impacts.
Mr Mwandenga said the Human Rights Commission will endeavor to ensure that it works to promote and protect the rights of women as the country works to actualize gender equality.
Women in uniform from the security wings salute as they sing the National Anthem during the commemoration of this year’s International womens day at Mulungushi Conference centre in Lusaka. Picture by SUNDAY BWALYA/ZANIS
UN Resident Coordinator, Coumba Mar Gadio reiterated the need for more women to be adopted in the 2021 general elections
Dr Gadio said UN will continue to work with the Zambian government to support nationwide efforts to support women empowerment and promotion of gender equality.
She said there is need for Zambia to continue to break down social and cultural barriers hindering women representation and participation in decision making positions.
And Swedish Ambassador to Zambia, Anna Maj Hultgård expressed concern at the possible increased cases of gender based violence due to the COVID- 19 pandemic which has created amicable conditions for the vice.
The Swedish envoy said Zambia ranks poorly on the gender equality index sitting at 137 out of the 162 countries listed.
Speaking in a virtual address Ambassador Maj Hultgård said Sweden will continue to assist Zambia fight gender based violence and promote gender equality through various interventions and programmes.
She said Sweden wants to support Zambia’s efforts in promoting gender equality and ensure that Zambian women and girls take part in the global transformation for a just and equal society.
Paul Moonga’s wild allegations against the Malawian Judiciary are a serious Diplomatic blunder!
Media reports carried by the Mast Newspaper dated 6 March 2021, attributed to Mr Paul Moonga, a senior ruling Patriotic Front party official, casting doubt on the credibility of the Malawian judiciary, are highly uncalled for and most unfortunate, and hence must be condemned in the strongest terms possible.
Mr Moonga’s utterances were careless, unguarded and undiplomatic. Alledging that a duly elected Govt was fraudulently installed in power by a corrupted Judiciary is an insult and a slap in the face of the Malawian Govt and the people of Malawi, who in their own wisdom took to the streets in protest against what they saw as fraudulent elections. For the PF official to publicly insinuate that the Malawian Judiciary professionally misconducted itself by coming to the aid of the Malawian people, is highly offensive, provocative and uncalled for.
The events that unfolded in Malawi following the highly disputed elections, were not shrouded in secrecy, as they were transparently carried by both local and international media for all to see and follow.
Hence Mr Paul Moonga’s unsubstantiated allegations are not only deliberate, and outrageous, but inflammatory as well to the government and the people of Malawi.
It is very undiplomatic and risky to accuse a Judiciary of a foreign government of illegal acts as it endangers bilateral relations. Malawi is not only a sister country within the SADC, but a neighbour closely bound to Zambia by history, a shared border, and culture.
It is a country with which Zambia has historically enjoyed friendly relations, and hence, Zambia can not risk souring such mutually beneficial relations through careless utterances such as issued by Mr Paul Moonga, a Patriotic Front government representative.
Our position is therefore unequivocal. We demand that the PF government issues an apology to the Malawian government unreservedly regarding this diplomatic blunder.
Southern Province Permanent Secretary, Joyce Bwacha has implored women in the region not to shun leadership positions in rural areas as they aspire to have equal opportunities with men.
ZANIS reports that Ms Bwacha has noted with concern, the tendency by some women to shun promotions to rural areas in preference for lower positions in urban areas.
She said this is retrogressive to the attainment of gender equality.
The PS was speaking today during a live interview at Byta fm radio in Choma, in commemoration of this year’s women’s day under the theme “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world.
She stated that there is favorable political will for women to progress under the leadership of President Edgar Lungu.
“We want a paradigm shift. When we speak, people should act. There are people who shun to go into promotions in rural areas. When they shun, it is unfortunate maybe that is where the window of promotion is. It is the women to stand up and take up the challenge,” she advised.
She further said it is incumbent upon the womenfolk to position themselves for leadership positions by ensuring they have the relevant qualifications.
Ms Bwacha is however, impressed with the number of women in leadership positions in the province, among them eight district commissioners.
She said this indicates that the country is on the right track to attaining equal rights for all.
Policy Monitoring and Research Center (PMRC) has called for women to be ambassadors for the post COVID-19 response agenda as the country implements the Economic Recovery Programme 2021-2023.
PMRC Executive Director, Bernadette Zulu said women can help identify and address gaps in response to the pandemic in order to redistribute economic resources as well as address gender-based violence.
She said in a statement that the pandemic has led to job losses and reduced business opportunities for women.
“To do this, we must break down the deep-seated historic, cultural, and socio-economic barriers that prevent women from taking their seat at the decision-making table to ensure that resources and power are more equitably distributed,” she said.
Mrs Zulu noted that in many countries, including Zambia, the first round of layoffs has been particularly acute in the services sector, including retail, hospitality and tourism, where women are most represented.
She said despite the barriers, women have continued being at the forefront of the response to COVID-19, in health facilities, service industry, markets, families and communities.
Ms Zulu said government, through the 2021-2023 Economic Recovery Plan will recognize job creation outside of the formal sector into non-traditional areas such as agriculture, small scale manufacturing and mining.
She stated that accounts of increased cases of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in which some result in death and teenage pregnancies are just some of the social ills that have dominated the news in the recent past.
“The 2021 commemorations of International Women’s Day are like no other. COVID-19 has delivered home some hard truths: in the social space, women and girls have been more adversely affected by the pandemic,” she said.
Mrs Zulu said the pandemic is a call to action and women must have the opportunity to play a full role in shaping the pivotal decisions being made as Zambia responds to and recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.
She highlighted that the pandemic has dramatically increased the poverty rate for women and widened the gap between men and women who live in poverty.
Mrs Zulu added that it is time to finally fully harness the power of women’s leadership to realize a more equal, more inclusive and more sustainable future.
Mrs said PMRC seeks to amplify women’s voices and promote their participation and leadership in public institutions, parliament and generally in the development space.
This year’s International Women’s Day is commemorated under the theme “Women in Leadership, Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 World.”
Minister of Health, Jonas Chanda says the country has continued to record reduced numbers of COVID-19 admission cases.
Dr Chanda said the cases are improving from statistical highs of 510 cases per day at the peak of the second wave of the pandemic in January 2021 to as low as 183 cases today.
He however, said majority of those admitted are critically ill, and emphasized that this is a reflection of the circumstances in communities and the need to keep observing COVID-19 preventive measures.
“COVID-19 situation update for the last 24 hours is as follows: We recorded 234 new cases out of 3,090 tests conducted. The new cases reported by province are broken down as follows: 120 Lusaka, 44 Copperbelt, 33 Luapula, 23 Eastern, 6 Northern, 6 Southern and 2 North-western. There were no cases reported from Central, Muchinga and Western provinces. This brings the cumulative number of confirmed cases recorded to 82, 655,” he said.
Dr Chanda said the country has recorded eight deaths with Lusaka having the highest number of three and other affected areas are North- Western, Copperbelt and Muchinga Provinces.
“We recorded a combined total of 778 recoveries from both the COVID-19 isolation facilities and home management, bringing the cumulative number of recoveries to 78,721 (95 percent). We currently have 2,802 active cases, of whom 2,619 (93percent) are under community management and 183 (7 percent) are admitted to our COVID-19 isolation facilities,” he said.
He said among those admitted, 129 are on Oxygen therapy and 29 are in critical condition.
Dr Chanda said the ministry continues to conduct training for health workers in order to strengthen case management capacity.
“In our bid to strengthen disease burdens including maternal and neonatal death. We are seeking innovative ways and means of ensuring that our High Dependency Units (HDU) benefit beyond the newly infrastructure development from the National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA), equipment and tools to support patient care,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Chanda said schools and higher learning institutions play an important role in supporting communities in observing COVID-19 precautions in order to avoid disruptions to the educational calendar.
He said school surveillance and monitoring is ongoing to ensure that learning institutions remain a safe environment for learners and teachers.
“This week, the Ministry of Health in collaboration with our counterparts from the Ministry of Education will be disseminating the consolidated guidelines for schools, which provide among others a monitoring checklist, to ensure that our schools have a standardized and systematic structure in place with regard to monitoring and adherence to public health guidance,” explained Dr Chanda.
This is contained in a statement availed to ZANIS in Lusaka today by Dr Chanda.
