NGO BASHES COVID-19 ‘DOUBTERS’
SOME Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) are confident the coronavirus (Covid-19) will be contained in Zambia, given the resilience with which the Government is handling the pandemic.
The NGO’s feels that some sections of society who were disputing COVID-19 figures want to derail Government intervention measures in dealing with the pandemic.
Andrew Mustard Kalima Foundation said all citizens must remain alert and adhere strictly to preventive measures while Government was monitoring and managing patients in designated isolation centres.
Chairman, Andrew Kalima, said in Ndola yesterday that Government had been resilient and appealed to citizens to ignore negative voices in as far as COVID-19 donations and intervention measures were concerned.
“We would like to add a solidarity voice to salute the Government under the leadership of President Edgar Lungu for putting in place measures to halt the spread of the corona virus.
“It is gratifying that the Government through the Ministry of Health is up-scaling desired measures to generate coordinated public awareness without living anyone behind,” he said. Mr Kalima said that all Zambians must rally behind Government, cooperating partners and many others who were committed to ensuring that the pandemic was contained.
He said COVID-19 had negatively affected all sectors of the economy and that there was no reason why anyone could fake figures.
Mr Kalima appealed to individuals, who were still sceptical about the existence to introspect and look at issues from an objective point f view.
“Citizens should support the Government to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by effectively taking personal responsibility such as ensuring a clean environment, practicing social distancing and avoiding public places to stay safe.
“We are all affected by the COVID-19 hence donations and support in monetary terms or otherwise are timely to the country as this will eradicate the virus,” he added.
Mr Kalima, who is also a financial specialist, noted that health was wealth and that without a productive and health citizenry, it would be misleading to even think of sustainable development to bring about improved lives of people who are drivers of the economy.