|
|
|||||
Almost 3,000 people have died in the past three years after suffering serious side-effects or allergies to their medicines, say official figures.More than 13,000 others in the same period had an “adverse drug reaction”, but survived with hospital treatment. The statistics, obtained by the Liberal Democrats, include damage caused by “over the counter” drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen. Experts said that medicines could not be blamed for all the reported cases.
The figures are drawn from “yellow card” scheme, run by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) to gather reports of all adverse reactions from both clinicians and patients. Last year, there were reports of 964 patients in the UK who died as a result of an adverse reaction, compared with more than 1,000 the previous year, and 861 in 2004. However, there is evidence that the vast majority of adverse drug reactions are never reported to the MHRA. Bigger problem A study published last year suggested that 6.5% of all patients admitted to hospital had experienced a reaction, and that in four out of five cases, the medicines they were taking were to blame. This adds up to as much as 250,000 cases a year – and an annual cost of £466 million to the NHS. The MHRA has urged patients to join doctors in reporting drug reactions to them via the NHS Direct phone line. While in some cases a deadly side-effect or allergy could not have been predicted, Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson has conceded that some cases should have been avoided. “We have to become better at learning from these mistakes,” he told a conference last month. However, the Liberal Democrats are calling for a “full investigation” into the issue. MP Norman Lamb said: “This is a dangerously escalating problem, which is putting lives at risk and placing a big cost burden on the NHS.”
While many of the cases involve drugs commonly prescribed by GPs and in hospitals, such as the blood-thinning drug warfarin and diuretics, a list of common culprits includes some which can be bought without prescription in any high street chemist. These include aspirin, and the anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen, both of which can cause gastric bleeding if taken in high doses over longer periods. Dr June Raine, the Director of Vigilance and Risk Management of Medicines at the MHRA said that every medicine carried some risk of side-effects. “Our role is to ensure that the benefits of medication outweigh the risks. “It is important to note that a report of an adverse drug reaction does not necessarily prove that it was caused by the drug. “Other factors such as underlying disease or other medicines may contribute to suspected adverse reactions.”
|
|||||
Drug reactions ‘kill thousands’
This is a dangerously escalating problem, which is putting lives at risk and placing a big cost burden on the NHS 
Calm down, Chieftainess Mweenda advised
Mazabuka town clerk, Ekan Chingangu has advised chieftainess Mwenda to calm down and rescind her decision to expel seven village headmen from chief Hanjalika believed to have encroached in her chiefdom because the disputed Mabwetuba ward belongs to her.
Mr Chingangu told ZANIS in Mazabuka today that claims by chief Hanjalika that Mabwetuba area belongs to him should not be taken serious.
He said this is because chief Hanjalika only visits the when he is sensitising people on the dangers of contracting the deadly HIV/AIDS.
Mr Chingangu said records at both Mazabuka municipal council and ministry of Lands indicate that Mabwetuba belongs to chieftainess Mwenda and not Hanjalika.
But chief Hanjalika has warned the town clerk to stop inciting chiefs to fight over land.
Chief Hanjalika said Mr Chingangu is not competent to comment on chiefs’ boundaries.
He also denied claims that he has been visiting Mabwetuba to sensitise people on HIV/AIDS.
Chief Hanjanlika said contrary to the town clerks assertions, he has been visiting the area as part of his chiefdom.
Three weeks ago, chieftainess Mwenda banned her counterpart from addressing meetings in Mabwetuba area.
The chieftainess complained to ZANIS in Mazabuka, donors and other non governmental organisations implementing developmental projects in the area ended up paying courtesy calls and consulting chief Hanjalika instead of herself whose land in question is in her chiefdom.
The traditional ruler also asked donors and non governmental organisations funding projects in Mabwetuba not to consult chief Hanjalika but herself because she is better placed to advise the problems her subjects were facing.
Schools, health centres benefit from CDF in Mazabuka
Several schools and rural health centres in Mazabuka’s Magoye constituency have benefitted from the K200 million constituency development fund (CDF) released by government to the district recently.
Magoye UPND member of parliament, Ben Mweemba told ZANIS in Mazabuka that priority has been given to schools and rural health centres because of the poor state of infrastructure.
Mr Mweemba said time was long gone when the CDF was abused by party cadres.
He said while he is aware that the move he has taken may make him unpopular especially among Women clubs and youth organisations, it is important to improve the status of schools and clinics to enhance service provision.
Mr Mweemba said Nkonkola high school has been given K20 million while the controversial Itebe Basic school has been given K30 Million.
Magoye and St. Michael Basic schools received K20 million.
The rural health centres that have received the CDF are Mweemba K3.5 million and Itebe K1.9 million.
Munjile rural health centre got K 1.3 million for the purchase of a solar panel.
And commenting on the disbursements of the funds, Mazabuka District Commissioner, Misheck Chiinda, commended Magoye constituency leadership for allocating huge resources to the schools and clinics.
The DC said he will scrutinise how CDF funds have been utilised by all the three constituencies.
National Milling spends K500 million on social responsibility programme
National Milling Company has disclosed that it has spent about K500 million on its Social Corporate Responsibility (SCR) programme on various interventions.
National Milling Managing Director Peter Cottan said the interventions include the feeding programmes for the vulnerable children at SOS village in Lusaka and Kitwe, World Life preservation and sports activities sch as boxing and football.
He said his company has this year ploughed more in society as compared to previous years because of the value it attaches to communities it serves.
Mr. Cottan made the remarks when his organization donated 43 by 10 kg bags of breakfast mealie meal valued over K700, 000 to KAZA Children home of Lusaka.
Former Miss Zambia Precious Mumbi commended organisations that are looking after the vulnerable in society.
Centre President Jessy Bwalya said her organization does not force children that are constantly sick to go for Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) without their consent.
She said her organization through intensive counseling has managed to rehabilitate children that are abused .
The centre that is supporting about 43 children, was opened about 10 months ago.
PF won’t punish anyone over NCC but…’
By REBECCA CHILESHEPATRIOTIC Front (PF) president, Michael Sata, says the party will not punish any of its 27 members of Parliament for participating in the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) but those who have committed other offences will face penalties.
Mr Sata said in an interview on Monday that the PF was not worried about members who had defied instructions to shun the NCC because the party had more important issues than the NCC.
“As far as the PF is concerned, the NCC is a dead issue.
The party is not worried about our colleagues who are defying their own decisions by taking part in the conference,” Mr Sata said.
He said only those MPs who knew they had gone against the PF constitution should be worried about what would happen to them.
He said the MPs should not panic but just go ahead and “enjoy” the allowances from the NCC.
He said the MPs should not even have bothered to go to court over the NCC because the court was not a disciplinary committee of the PF.
He said by taking part in the conference, the MPs were merely giving the party a chance to re-organise itself and to bring in more competent people.
Mr Sata said he regretted having embraced Luapula MP, Peter Machungwa and Bangweulu MP, Joseph Kasongo, who he said had brought confusion in the party.
He alleged that Dr Machungwa, who came from the Party for Unity Democracy and Development (PUDD), was instrumental in destabilising the PF, even before he joined it.
“We are actually reaping where we sowed.
We did not listen when people warned us about the characters of some of these people,” Mr Sata said.
We knew that some of the people who were joining us from PUDD and Forum for Democracy and Development such as Elizabeth Chitika-Mulobeka and Major Celestino Chibamba did not mean well.”
He said the party had difficulties selling Mrs Chitika-Mulobeka, Major Chibamba and Ernest Mwansa to the people in their respective constituencies during last year’s general elections.
Mr Sata said he had to plead with chiefs and the people to accept some of the candidates the PF fielded.
He said the party’s NEC would soon meet to find a new chairperson for elections to replace Mr Mwansa who was removed from his position last week.
Mr Sata said once a replacement for Mr Mwansa was found, that person would draw up a programme for elections to usher in new leaders.
The PF president said he was pleased that the party was now going to get better leaders because it had “more intelligent and loyal leaders” than the 27 MPs combined.
He said it was just as well the PF did not form government because some of the MPs who had “betrayed” the party would have been ministers.
He said people in the provinces had already started campaigning for new leaders to take over the various positions that have fallen vacant.
But Dr Machungwa, the spokesperson for the 27 MPs, said he would not comment on the allegations made against him by his party president.
Dr Machungwa also advised PF spokesperson, Given Lubinda, not to be personal when dealing with party issues.
He said Mr Lubinda was behaving as though he was “more PF” than other members yet he was also just appointed by Mr Sata.
He was reacting to a statement by Mr Lubinda that Dr Machungwa must produce minutes of the meeting where party leaders resolved to incite party cadres to rise against the 27 MPs.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
Zambia depart …as Elijah Tana misses flight
A CONFIDENT
Speaking shortly before departure at the Lusaka International airport yesterday, coach, Patrick Phiri, said Tana who left camp on Saturday travelled to the Copperbelt and did not return on Monday as scheduled but assured that he would be in before the team’s departure for Spain.
“We don’t know what’s happening to Tana,” Phiri said.
Phiri who could not state whether the defence kingpin would join the squad or not said all the other players were okay and that the Europe-based quartet of Collins Mbesuma, Jacob Mulenga, Andrew Sinkala and Moses Sichone were also doubtful for the
He said Mbesuma of Turkish side Bursaspor and Mulenga of French Ligue 1 side RC Strasbourg were scheduled to join the squad later this week while the Germany-based duo of Sichone and Sinkala were still recovering and would go for review next week before joining their colleagues.
Skipper, Chris Katongo, called on his teammates to work hard and repay the faith 12 million Zambians had bestowed on the 23 men that will represent
Katongo said football had shown in the past that it was a game of surprises some of which come when giants like
South Africa-based defender, Billy Mwanza, said he could not wait to frustrate
Ian Bakala, Felix Katongo and Adubelo Phiri all of whom ply their trade in the Angolan Gira Bola league want to show Zambians who are not privy to their league games that there was still a lot of football in them
Zanaco defender, Kennedy Nketani, is optimistic the Chipolopolo would perform well despite being grouped alongside champions Egypt, former holders Cameroon and the resurgent Sudan, recently crowned CECAFA champions.
Nketani said all the players needed to put in above 100 per cent commitment in order to overcome the giants of the continent, saying treating
Debutant, William Njobvu, 20, said for him it was an honour to make the squad for such an important tournament like the Africa Cup and that his aim was to prove that he is worthy of his place in the team.
The Lusaka Dynamos midfielder, who together with Emmanuel Mayuka have been elevated from the under-20 squad, said the coaching staff had seen the importance of blending young talent and the experienced old guards for continuity.
Another first timer William Chinyama is hoping to help the squad win games adding that the biennial championship would be the best stage for him to net his first goal for both club and country.
Chinyama who plays for FAZ/KCM league champions, Zesco United said every player in the squad was aware of the task that lay ahead and the reaction the players expected from the fans should
His defence partner Hichani Himoonde said the defence that has been selected was rock solid enough to stop even the top strikers in the business and that the fact that all the players were the most instrumental at their respective clubs was an added bonus.
Splinter Catholic Church launched
Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) spokesperson, Paul Samasumo, said in reaction that he did not have much information about the newly formed church but was aware that the Catholic bishops in
Father Samasumo said in an interview in
Archbishop Mbewe said during the launch of the new church which has strong links with excommunicated prelate Emmanuel Milingo that the hour had come for priests in the Roman Catholic Church to start marrying and taking care of their forsaken children.
Archbishop Mbewe who is also the apostolic administrator of the new church said over the years most priests had laboured quietly and prudently to advocate for the restoration of married priests in the Roman Catholic Church.
Archbishop Mbewe said during the ceremony held at Peace Embassy that there were moments that the priests hoped the restoration of married priests would be made
possible.
Other church leaders who had since been co-opted in the church attended the lunch.
“We feel duty bound now to found our own Catholic church, an independent Catholic church where we can truly enjoy the freedom enjoyed by children of God. It should surprise no one to hear of yet another Catholic church,” he said.
Archbishop Mbewe said there were other independent churches that came into existence especially in the 1870 AD when some bishops broke away from
He said freedom of worship as enshrined in the United Nations (UN) and African Union (AU) charters stipulated that it was an inalienable right to found churches and worship God without any interference from any quarter.
Archbishop Mbewe who served as a Roman Catholic priest for over 17 years said the problem of mandatory and compulsory celibacy for priests in the Roman Catholic Church was crucial.
He said profound pain and suffering had been caused to priests as a result of celibacy and that most of this pain and suffering was uncalled for.
He said the celibacy found in the Bible was not compulsory but optional. Archbishop Mbewe said Jesus Christ refused to make celibacy compulsory but left it optional.
“The majority of these priests and bishops do not have this gift, they are like the majority of humanity and they deserve to marry and still continue to minister to God’s people,” he said.
Archbishop Mbewe said it was a known fact that nearly all the apostles to Jesus and the first Pope, Peter were married and so were the other 28 Popes as the Holy Bible stated that being accompanied by a wife in the ministry was not a minus but a great asset.
He said celibacy was made compulsory in the 12th Century for dubious reasons but it was never accepted in practice.
He said the priests and bishops resisted the man-made law and they appeared celibate in public yet privately they were going out with women, a scenario, which he said even prevailed today.
Archbishop Mbewe said the celibacy issue had led to some priests contracting HIV/AIDs.
Meanwhile, Archbishop Mbewe said the church should work with the Government of the day. He said days are gone when the Church was the enemy of the State.
[Times of Zambia]
Catholic Church to sue over name
The Catholic Church in Zambia says it will take legal action against a break away church which is using its name.
Don’t be lonely at Christmas time
|
|
|||
| Social networking sites could eventually eliminate entirely the need for the offline socialising that has become the cornerstone of the festive season.Most people have heard of Facebook but there are plenty of rivals vying for its crown. The BBC News website dips into some of the more interesting alternatives in a bid to make sure that no-one need be lonely this Christmas.
HABBO
A good one for the teenagers as this virtual environment was created specifically for that age group. The community was launched back in 2000 and combined the idea of a chatroom with an online game. It has recently had a makeover to improve access to personal pages, friends and groups and bring it more up to date for the generation most at home on social networking sites. It allows users to create their own personalised Habbo character and dress it with accessories, including hats, belts, jewellery and facial hair, as well as gas masks, paper bags and hairstyles. Users can also buy furniture to put in the various rooms it creates within the virtual hotel using credits bought with real-life currency Earlier this month it teamed up with Greenpeace to see what its members thought about global warming. Some 50,000 teenagers filled in the survey and 74% rated global warming as their biggest concern, ahead of drugs, war or violence. The site now has, of July this year, more than 82m registered characters. According to Nielsen/NetRatings Habbo attracted an audience of 292,000 from the UK during the month of October. PERFSPOT
Perfspot is a social networking site geared toward university students and young professionals, and its ethos is based on the desire to obtain a “perf” life. It offers most of the usual features of social networking, including newsfeeds, customisable profile options and the option of linking photos to other users’ profiles plus unlimited space to upload images and videos. It hit the headlines in the late summer, becoming the fastest growing social networking site. In the months April to August 2007 it grew a massive 756%, compared to Facebook’s 541% growth. As the UK’s fastest growing brand this year it is a good illustration of how social networks can come out of nowhere if they hit the right note with users. FREECYCLE
If you have an interest in the environment and like the idea of reusing other people’s junk, or have unwanted Christmas presents that you want to recycle then Freecycle could be for you. The non-profit network is based on the premise that “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” and is about harnessing the power of the internet to connect communities and ‘gift’ each other everyday objects that they no longer want. It is a global network made up of over 4,000 groups. It now has in excess of four million members, and is adding 25,000 new members each week. Each group is moderated by a local volunteer and the main thrust of it is to “reuse and keep good stuff out of landfills”. Each city has a unique e-mail group and anyone living in the area is welcome to post items to be given away or seek |
|||
[BBC]
PF schemes against NCC delegates
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) Members of Parliament participating in the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) have accused the party’s leadership of inciting cadres to rise against them for taking part in the meetings.
But PF chairman for information and publicity, Given Lubinda challenged those making the allegations to report the said leaders to the police as inciting cadres to rise against them was a criminal offence.
Spokesperson for the MPs participating in the NCC deliberations, Peter Machungwa said in a statement issued in
Dr Machungwa said the rising against the MPs had already started in Bwana Mkubwa Constituency in
He said such stage-managed activities would create a rift within the party and weaken the PF. He said the activities were also contemptuous in the light of the injunction granted to MPs taking part in the NCC.
“Under the circumstances we appeal to our colleagues masterminding these activities to be mindful of the greater interest of our party and the Zambian people in general. We have not instructed our lawyers to begin contempt proceedings because we are hoping that they would reason. We are taking a reconciliatory path,” Dr Machungwa said.
Mr Lubinda said for leaders to be accused of inciting cadres, Dr Machungwa and others were in a way branding the PF leadership of being anarchists and should therefore be reported to police.
“Let them furnish the police with evidence so that the police can investigate which leaders are inciting cadres. Every Zambian has the right to complain when their MP is not doing the right thing. If people are unsatisfied with the MP what has that got to do with the party leadership?” Mr Lubinda asked.
Chief Sinazongwe upset with Fisheries department’s failure to buy boats
By Tovin Ngombe
Chief Sinazongwe has expressed concern that the Fisheries department in the district has no single boat to monitor bad fishing methods on
FJT spills beans
FORMER Republican President Frederick Chiluba has said he has no personal differences with businessman Rajan Mathani but decided to terminate their relationship because the latter became greedy after being helped in his business deals. Dr Chiluba insisted that the Government was still giving Finance Bank preferential treatment against other banks, which he said were better and well established.
He said the claims by Dr Mathani that his companies won bids fairly without Government collusion were not true.
But Chief Government spokesperson Mike Mulongoti denied the Government giving Finance Bank or Dr Mathani preferential treatment and urged the two parties to sort out their personal differences instead of involving the Government.
Dr Chiluba, who was speaking during the Press briefing at his Kabulonga residence in Lusaka yesterday, said deals like the supply of desks by Furncoz to the Ministry of Education and the opening of Finance Bank in Malawi as some in which Dr Mathani let him down.
Dr Chiluba said the contract awarded to Furncoz, one of Dr Mathani’s companies by the Ministry of Education for the supply of substantial desks worth billions of Kwacha, but even when the ministry paid the money upfront, the desks were not delivered until
after the inspector of schools raised concern.
He said the matter was later brought to his attention and he summoned Dr Mathani to State House where he gave various unconvincing answers.
He said the other frightening experience was when Dr Mathani asked him to be introduced to former Malawian President Bakili Muluzi in order for him to open Finance Bank in that country.
He said in due course, the Bank of Malawi was infuriated by the unorthodox behaviour of Finance Bank and ordered it closed for alleged illegal externalisation of foreign exchange from Malawi.
“It was one of the saddest days of my presidency in which I regretted having brought my country and leadership in disrepute.
“There are many such instances and sad chapters in my relations with Dr Mathani which only helped me distance myself because he progressively became the epitome of greed, insatiable greed.
Each time I saw him I feared I was looking neo-colonialism or imperialism itself in the face,” he said.
Dr Chiluba also said the remarks by his Former Vice Republican president Christon Tembo suggesting that there was something personal between the two and that he knew the source of the difference were unfounded and far from the truth.
On the incarceration of Dr Mathani , Dr Chiluba said this was a matter for the intelligence to explain. He said what he knew was that there was a military coup in 1997 and some of the people arrested and charged were convicted.
Mr Mulongoti when contacted for a comment said Dr Chiluba during his tenure was the one who was dealing with Dr Mathani and even incarcerated him.
Mr Mulongoti said Dr Chiluba had still failed to tell the people of Zambia why he arrested Dr Mathani.
Mr Mulongoti said if at the time he was President he felt that there was something wrong between the two, he should have sorted out the problems there and then.
“Dr Chiluba and Dr Mathani knew each other from Ndola a long time ago. They should not start accusing each other in the Press. Dr Chiluba is a former head of State and the people of Zambia are looking to him. He has to attract some dignity,” he said.
Mr Mulongoti who is also Information and Broadcasting Minister said the Government of President Mwanawasa was a government of Laws.
Dr Mathani could not be reached for a comment as he was reported to be out of the country but Finance Bank spokesperson Noel Nkhoma denied Dr Chiluba’s accusations and explained that the Government had several accounts with other banks, the majority of them being held at Zambia National Commercial Bank.
Meanwhile, Dr Chiluba has supported the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) saying it is a noble cause that must be embraced.
Answering questions from Journalists during the Press briefing, Dr Chiluba said the NCC must be embraced and allowed to go on.
He said the allowances given to the NCC members were not too bad considering the nature of the work.
“The payments are not too bad for such a noble cause.
I am not condemning those who are saying so (that the allowances are hefty) but I am in support of those who
are saying let’s go. This is something we must embrace and should go on,” he said.
[Times of Zambia]
A Maritime director calls for marine institute in Sinazongwe
The Maritime and Inland Waterways Director under the Ministry of Communication and Transport has called for the transformation of Sinazongwe Fisheries Training Centre into a Marine Training Institute.
Chief Chikanta hails Levy on NCC
A traditional ruler in Southern province
has commended President Levy Mwanawasa for successfully putting in
place a team that is going to debate and come up with the contents of
the constitution of the country.
Chief Chikanta of the Tonga people of Kalomo district has since urged
President Mwanawasa to work tirelessly and ensure that he leaves
behind a people driven constitution.
Chief Chikanta said this in an interview with ZANIS in Livingstone
today.
He said so far everything seemed to be going well as all those people
who would be sitting on the constitution were capable leaders who
would make meaningful contributions to the constitution making
process.
The traditional leader noted that those people who were opposed to
the NCC had their own agendas.
”To President Mwanawasa, I say you work hard on this constitution so
that you retire honourably. In Zambia no one will be perfect. That is
a tradition here because people are just used to be opposed. Those
who don’t want to join have their own agendas,” he said.
And commenting on the alleged hefty allowances being given to NCC
members which some people have complained of in some sections of the
media, Chief Chikanta said he was aware that president Mwanawasa was
strict with the economy of Zambia and could not spend colossal
amounts of money on immaterial things.
”President Mwanawasa is so strict with the economy of this country
and I don’t think he can be careless to give money for nothing,” he
said.
The NCC opened in Lusaka on Wednesday this week with President Levy
Mwanawasa urging the NCC members to exercise responsibility,
objectivity and patriotism in their deliberations to ensure that they
came up with a generally accepted document.
And in Mazabuka, Chief Hanjalika of Mazabuka says he has no doubt that the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) will deliver a people driven constitution following the independence given to the delegates by government.
The Chief told ZANIS in Mazabuka that the official openning speech by President Mwanawasa was inspiring because he challenged the delegates to be impartial and avoid politicising the process.
Chief Hanjalika said the fact that, Dr Mwanawasa assured the nation that he will have no influence as the NCC act does not give him more powers to influence the outcome of the final document is encouraging and deserves support from all patrotic Zambians.
He also said the decision taken by the executive to give power to the delegates to elect their own Chairperson and the Vice clearly shows how transparent the process shall be.
Meanwhile, Chief Hanjalika has called on Zambians to give the NCC a chance and allow the delegates do a good job.
The traditional ruler said attacking the NCC and the allowances given to the delegates should not be an issue because Zambians are only interested in new constitution.
NCZ workers protest over non payment of salaries
Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia workers today staged a protest demanding that government should release money for the fertilizer the company produced this year under the Fertilizer Suport Programme.
The workers who refused to work are also demanding to be paid their three months salary arrears threatening to paralyzed operations at the plant if the funds are not released.
The angry workers told ZANIS in Kafue at the plant that it is difficult for them to understand why government is subjecting workers to such treatment when funds were available.
The workers who refused to be addressed by union officials demanded that management should tell them their fate and future of the company instead of wasting their time.
The workers have refused to accept any salary arrears of less than three months.
National Union of Commercial and Industrial Workers (NUCIW) President Seth Paradza told ZANIS that efforts to get in touch with company Chief Executive Officer Richard Soko failed as he was reported to be in a meeting with Agriculture Permanent Secretary Dr. Samuel Mundia in Lusaka.
Mr. Paradza explained that government had signed a letter for the partial release of the money to pay workers salaries but wondered why the money was not released.
He said workers have vowed not to report for work because there is no way they can be celebrating Christmas without being paid their money.
Mr. Paradza stated that it is not easy to produce 30,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer in six months and meet the deadline.