The Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA) says it is fully equipped and ready to respond to any potential COVID-19 outbreak in Zambia.
Agency Senior Manager for Corporate Communications Bradly Chingombe, said following the increasing reports of positive COCID-19 cases in the country, the Agency has proactively stepped up the immediate procurement of additional medical supplies to ensure a continuous and uninterrupted supply of essential commodities necessary for epidemic control.
“We have adequate supplies available to supply and support treatment efforts. ZAMMSA has disseminated a comprehensive list of available products to all health facilities across the country.”
Chingombe says the agency has sufficient stocks of essential health commodities including medicines, surgical products, laboratory supplies and personal protective equipment such as face mask and coveralls, and pain management medications.
“The agency would like to urge the public to seek timely medical assistance at the nearest healthy facility if they experience COVID-related symptoms,” he advised.
Minister of Health Sylvia Masebo recently said health authorities were separately monitoring COVID-19
trends and had recorded an increase in the weekly positivity samples being tested.
She said because of the cool and dry weather conditions, authorities had seen an upsurge in the number
of respiratory infections and were monitoring trends of reported respiratory infections and influenza-
like illnesses.
Presenting an update on the Influenza situation in the country and on COVID-19 reports from the five top hit districts, Masebo said Zambia had cumulatively recorded 4,770 COVID-19 cases between January and June this year with the Copperbelt Province (Chingola, Kalulushi, Chililabombwe) reporting the highest total number of cases followed by Lusaka (Lusaka Province) and Kabwe (Central Province).
“To this effect, we have activated the detection of these viruses and other pathogens at the University Teaching Hospital using a multi-disease diagnostic platform. These platforms will be able to detect many pathogens not just these viruses.”
Masebo directed all health workers to closely monitor cases of viral infections and make early detection followed up with appropriate management.
She said the country has no influenza vaccines in the national immunization programme, but that her ministry is conducting surveillance in selected sites under the National Influenza Center (NIC) in Chipata, Livingstone, Lusaka, Nakonde, Ndola, and Solwezi.
The health minister said COVID-19 vaccines are available and has urged members of the public who are not yet vaccinated to do so.
She also appealed to the public to observe the highest hygiene and other preventive measures, including masking up for those with COVID-19.
