Senior Medic Accuses Chilufya Of Mismanaging Covid-19 Crisis

A senior medical practitioner has criticised Health Minister Dr Chitalu Chilufya’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, saying it has been characterised by confusion.

Dr Mwaba Kasese-Bota, an epidemiologist and public health expert, also accused Dr Chilufya of squandering the resources and expertise available to his department. 

“The Ministry of Health is one ministry that has had a rich investment in the skills of the administrators and the health workers albeit inadequate resources for tools of the practice (technology, drugs, PPE). The Directorate experts including those in Public Health and Zambia National Public Health Institute are seasoned technocrats who have prevailed over various epidemics including HIV par excellence as the case could be, given our environment and circumstances. What is it that is making them fail to come to the grade expectation of their potential with Covid19? Why are they failing to provide the necessary advice worth the science so akin to them?” She said. 

 Dr Kasese-Bota, who previously served as Zambia’s permanent representative to the United Nations, also accused authorities of downplaying the seriousness of Covid-19.

She said there was a tendency in the medical community and the media to present Covid-19 as an incidental sickness to a more serious underlying condition, rather than as the actual cause of death. 

“The cause of death on the death certificate should be what transpired in the last minute of life and include as a consequence of Covid-19 on existing conditions e.t.c. asthma if any. Briefing communication will give Covid19 as the cause and nothing less nothing more,” she urged. 

Overall, Dr Kasese-Bota suggested that Dr Chilfya return to his job of policy guidance and allow the permanent secretary and public health directors to oversee the technical aspects of Zambia’s Covid-19 response. 

Dr Mwaba Kasese-Bota