PF L\stone youths fume over opinion polls of candidates INTERNATIONAL PATIENTS

Clinical trials confirm the hope that the cheap, widely available drugs can help se- riously ill patients survive. The World Health Organi- zation is expected to release new guidelines encouraging their use.

steroids for treatment of pa- tients with severe or critical Covid-19 worldwide. But the agency recommended against giving the drugs to patients with mild disease.

The new studies include an analysis that pooled data from seven randomized clin- ical trials evaluating three steroids in over 1,700 pa- tients. The study concluded that each of the three drugs reduced the risk of death.

That paper and three relat- ed studies were published in

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) youths

the journal JAMA, along with

in Shungu ward in Livingstone

an editorial describing the re- search as an “important step

have raised concerns with the

forward in the treatment of patients Covid-19.”

way the constituency leadership is conducting itself towards aspiring parliamentary candidates.

The youth complained that the constituency leadership led by Thomas Kabanda had been going round, grading and rating candidates without following the due party procedures.

Ward Chairman, Ben Moonga, said that the rating

Dexamethasone was the first steroid shown to be effective in severely ill Covid-19 patients.

Steroids like dexametha- sone, hydrocortisone and methylprednisolone are often used by doc- tors to tamp down the body’s immune system, alleviating inflammation, swelling and pain. Many Covid-19 patients die not exercise of the virus, but of has the the potential displeasure of the conduct of

body’s overreaction to bring the infection. division in the party. some PF constituency offi

Mr Moonga said that youths cials who are going round and from Shungu ward would not posting on social media the

Corticosteroids should now be the first-line treat-

allow Mr Kabanda and his grading and rating of aspiring

ment for critically ill patients, the authors added. The only

team to visit the ward and concandidates.

other drug shown to be effec- tive in seriously ill patients,

duct the grading and rating of "We want to know who al

and only modestly at that, is remdesivir.

aspiring candidates before all lowed this exercise because as

Steroids like dexameth- asone, hydrocortisone and

those interested in contesting far as we are concerned, we did

methylprednisolone are of- ten used by doctors to tamp

as MPs hand in their applicanot receive any formal com

down the body’s immune

The World Health Organization said steroids should be used to treat patients

system, alleviating inflam-

tion letters. mation, swelling and pain. hospitalized with severe Covid-19, munication but advised against from giving the the district... drugs to pa-

Many Covid-19 patients die tients with mild cases.

He said youths have deso we don't want them to come

not of the virus, but of the body’s overreaction to the in- Oxford University discov- Todd Rice, an associate pro- manded answers from the to Shungu ward because This shows we us

fection. ered that dexamethasone fessor of medicine and crit-

steroids are

The analysis of pooled seemed to improve survival ical care physician at Van- leadership which body sancshall chase them," he clearly said. ben-

data found that steroids rates in severely ill patients. derbilt University School of

eficial in this

were linked with a one-third Researchers had hoped that Medicine. tioned the grading and rating Efforts to get a population comment

reduction in deaths among other inexpensive steroids “This shows us steroids

and should

Covid-19 patients. Dexa- might help these patients. are clearly beneficial in of aspiring candidates. from Mr Kabanda clearly proved be given, fu

methasone produced the Taken together, the new this population and should

unless you abso-

strongest results: a 36 per- studies will bolster confi- clearly be given, unless you

"We the PF concerned tile as his phone lutely went can’t for unansome

cent drop in deaths in 1,282 dence in the use of steroids absolutely can’t for some

reason, which needs

patients treated in three sep- and address any lingering reason, which needs to be

members hereby register our swered. to be a pretty rare

arate trials. hesitancy on the part of a pretty rare occasion,” he

occasion.

In June, some physicians, said Dr. said. - to

THE Mufulira Municipal Council (MMC) has extended the grace period for the renewal of trading licences and other certificates as a Covid-19 relief offer to the business sector.

MMC Assistant Public Relations Manager, Thandiwe Tembo, said the local authority appreciated the financial challenges the business sector had suffered due to the Covid-19 outbreak, hence the decision to extend to the licence renewal to the end of this month.

Ms Tembo said the renewal of trading licences and certificates was initially supposed to close on December 31 last year, but the council extended it to 31st January 2021.

“Mufulira has spared from the not been negative financial effects of Covid-19 on the business community and this is our way of lending the businesses a helping hand by giving them more time," she said.

She urged the business sector to take advantage of the extension and make all necessary payments as renewing licenses after February 28, will attract a penalty fee of K500.

Ms Tembo said non-compliance with necessary requirements such as levies negatively affected the council’s revenue base, which resulted in poor service delivery.

“All the services that the council provides require money, so we need to collect enough to be effective," Ms Tembo said.

- ZANIS