Zambia Cabinet Approves Creation Of Contingency Fund To Tackle COVID-19

The Zambian cabinet has approved for the creation of a contingency fund for emergency preparedness, prevention and mitigation measures against the outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a spokesperson said on Tuesday.

The contingency fund was also meant to protect the public from the social, economic and cultural effects that the disease may cause.

Chief Government Spokesperson Dora Siliya said the move was a response to the World Health Organization's call for countries to respond to and abide by the international health regulations to facilitate the control of the international spread of the disease.

"Therefore, Zambia is expected to put in place measures to prevent, detect and respond to any potential outbreak," she said in a statement released after a cabinet meeting.

Cabinet, she said, was concerned and wanted to ensure that the public was protected.