HH Outlines Plan To Bring Pandemic Under Control
UPND Alliance presidential candidate Hakainde Hichilema has outlined his party’s plan for bringing the Covid-19 pandemic under control if they are elected into office this August.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Mr Hichilema said his government would immediately declare the pandemic a national disaster and create a specialised directorate within the president’s office to tackle the situation.
HH observed that the Patriotic Front government had failed the people of Zambia by allowing lives to be lost through inadequate healthcare provisions. He also said it was deeply unfortunate that donations given for the fight against Covid were being misappropriated by those tasked with managing the pandemic.
Yesterday, Zambia recorded 1,013 new coronavirus cases and 45 deaths, continuing the downward trend in case numbers over recent weeks. However, new research from The Conversation has indicated that these figures could be much higher, with government figures underestimating the number of deaths by a factor of ten.
Mr Hichilema said his party would also work to bring down deaths from Covid-19 by recruiting doctors and nurses who have been either fired or retired so as to ensure all hospitals are fully staffed. So far the PF government has failed to deliver on its promise to recruit an additional 500 graduate doctors and has even arrested senior medics following a go-slow strike by the Resident Doctors Association of Zambia.
HH also reiterated his promise to secure oxygen supplies, by creating supply chains at the provincial level. Last month, the private sector was forced to step in, with commercial banks buying oxygen cylinders for hospitals when the Ministry of Health was unable to get hold of them.
Finally, the UPND leader said he would instate a mandatory quarantine for all visitors to Zambia in order to reduce the number of new infections coming into the country. He contrasted this policy with the roadshows and rallies continually being held by the PF and asked why the government was content with this clear lack of leadership.