Govt recruits 573 health workers

GOVERNMENT has recruited 200 doctors among the 573 health workers to lessen the burden on the workforce worsened by escalating cases of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Health Permanent Secretary for Technical Services, Dr Kennedy Malama, said this was meant to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 in the country.

Dr Malama urged the recruited employees to report to their stations without delay and directed the provincial health directors to ensure smooth coordination of the process.

He also commended the World Bank for supporting the Covid-19 response.

He indicated that 200 doctors, 46 biomedical scientists, seven biomedical technicians, 300 nurses and 20 emergency technicians were recruited.

“Government would like to take this opportunity to commend the World Bank for supporting the Covid-19 response by recruiting 200 doctors, 46 biomedical scientists, seven biomedical technicians, 300 nurses and 20 emergency technicians for the next three months effective June 21, 2021.

“This support will go a long way in mitigating the impact of Covid-19 in the country,” Dr Malama said.

He said President Edgar Lungu had authorised the recruitment of more health workers as part of the Covid-19 response.

He said it was clear that Covid-19 would be with people for some time and the waves being experienced could be a permanent phenomenon.

“However, as a country we can prevent and mitigate the spread of Covid-19 by showing solidarity and moving from rhetoric to action at individual, family, institutional and community levels,” Dr Malama said.

Meanwhile in the last 24 hours, Zambia recorded 3, 028 new Covid-19 cases out of 10, 882 tests conducted, bringing the cumulative number of confirmed cases recorded to 133, 659.

Dr Malama lamented that the country has continue to lose Covid-19 patients at an alarming and disheartening rate.