COVID-19: ECL STRESSES ON LOCAL CONSULTATIONS

By Hector Simfukwe

President Edgar Lungu says Zambia is undertaking internal consultations on the possibility of availing safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines to the Zambian people as a way of successfully controlling the pandemic.

President Lungu says a task force of local experts and scientists has been set up to advise on the whole process and ensure due diligence is followed in the deployment and administration of the vaccines .

The President regretted that the pandemic, which is currently in its second wave and intensified by a new strain of the virus, had put pressure and strain on the health service delivery system.

The Head of State however acknowledged Zambia’s receipt of the COVID-19 assistance package of the Jack Ma Foundation, which has greatly assisted in the prevention and control of the outbreak of the disease during the first wave.

President Lungu said this during the 34th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union which was held via video conferencing due to the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The President said this in a speech read for him by Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Malanji.

He has congratulated Democratic Republic of Congo Felix Tshisekedi for taking over as African Union Chairman for the year 2021.

President Lungu has also commended South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is the outgoing Chairperson of the AU.

The two-day Summit is being held via video conferencing due to the restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

This is according to the statement issued by Ministry of Foreign Affairs Public Relations Officer, Chansa Kabwela.

The post COVID-19: ECL STRESSES ON LOCAL CONSULTATIONS appeared first on .