STRICT COMPLIANCE
AS the death toll rises at the height of winter, all citizens must summon the moral consciousness and be part of the fight against the deadly Covid-19.
The pandemic is raging in communities, spreading exponentially, across the width and breadth of the country.
It is against such a backdrop that all citizens across ages ought to be more responsible and strictly adhere to the five golden rules: masking up, washing hands regularly, avoiding crowded places, seeking medical attention without delay and maintaining physical distance.
Apart from that, each and every citizen must be a goodwill ambassador through involvement in sensitisation programmes even at individual level.
It is the responsibility of everyone to spread educative messages on Covid-19 if indeed this pandemic is to be eliminated.
Public transport operators are particularly well-placed to educate people who get on their buses and those patronising bus stations.
The Zambia Police Service traffic section will do well to buttress sensitisation by making sure that all passengers on public automobiles are masked up.
Local authorities across the country are equally an integral part of the fight and can effectively sensitise people in markets and other public places, apart from their responsibility to enforce public health regulations.
Additionally, the Church has even a greater responsibility to enhance pastoral duties and lacing such work with more messages on the dangers of Covid-19 and the best ways of preventing the disease.
The Church has a moral and spiritual authority which can easily resonate in communities while the traditional leadership can also add its authoritative voice towards this noble cause.
If such a multi-sectoral approach was set forth in a strategic fashion, the “war” against this global pandemic will be successful in no time.
In the meantime, Government must continue with strict surveillance through the Ministry of Health and other State wings such as the Immigration Department in border areas and the aviation industry.
At this juncture, citizens have come to realise that the pandemic is real as it has claimed lives of many people in a short time.
People in communities have been affected as friends, acquaintances and relatives have died from this pandemic which originated from China in 2019 and spread across the globe the following year.
In Zambia, some people who shunned the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccination are now eagerly and desperately waiting for the inoculation exercise to resume.
As explained by experts, the vaccines can protect a person from drifting into a critical condition, hence the need for all citizens to get the jab.
A fully-vaccinated person can get infected but will not get critical to the extent of needing oxygen therapy; this has been proven in the third wave.
Sadly, some pockets of citizens are still sceptical about issues surrounding the Covid-19 and it is such category of citizens who need proper and effective sensitisation.
It is mind-boggling that some people are still moving around public places without masks and would only use them when getting into banks or supermarkets.
Some shop owners are also allowing unmasked customers in their outlets just to maximise revenue at the expense of their health and that of others.
Evidently, prominent and ordinary citizens have succumbed to this deadly pandemic; all Zambians ought to be responsible!
PURSUING JUSTICE AND EQUITY WITH INTERGRITY