Chanda Continues To Urge Public To ‘Mask-Up’

After a coronavirus variant first detected in South Africa was suspected to have led to a 16-fold increase in cases in Zambia, the country’s Minister of Health, Jonas Chanda, continues to urge the general public to wear masks where possible. 

Although the country has seen a decrease in the number of cases, following highs of over 1,500 cases reported daily in January, a number of the current 234 cases are critically ill. Of those who have been admitted to hospital, 129 are on oxygen therapy and 29 are in a critical condition.  

Areas for focus include those working in healthcare as well as in schools and higher learning institutions. Dr Chanda said “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,”.

With regard to schools and higher learning institutions, Chanda sees these as an important opportunity to support communities in observing COVID-19 precautions to help avoid further disruptions to education. 

Advice given by the Minister of Health comes after Zambia’s initiative ‘Mask Up Zambia’, launched in collaboration with the United Nations, to encourage wearing face masks in public following an increase in cases. This advice is hoped to cut transmission further, by as much as 80 percent.