Lusaka Province Minister Sheal Mulyata is concerned that the Province has continued to record the lowest vaccination rate despite recording the highest covid-19 infections in the country.
Mrs Mulyata observes that the province remains at a coverage rate of 40 percent of the 70 percent target while other parts of the country have achieved the target.
She said in a speech read for her by Provincial Permanent Secretary Robert Kamalata at the Provincial launch of the covid-19 vaccination campaign in Lusaka this morning.
Mrs Mulyata noted that only 28.2 percent of the target population in Lusaka province has been fully vaccinated.
“Luangwa district has the highest vaccinated population at 52 percent while Lusaka has the lowest at 27 percent.” She stated.
The Provincial Minister noted that government prioritizes investments in the health sector because socioeconomic development depends on a healthy population.
“Quality health service delivery systems have been strengthened to ensure that the vaccines are available as close to the family as possible,” she said.
Mrs Mulyata said that the campaign which will run for a week will focus on vaccinating the eligible children aged between 12 and 17 years and the aged.
USAID/Zambia urged Zambians to prevent future impacts of the pandemic by protecting themselves through vaccination.
USAID/Zambia Community ART Advisor Musonda Musonda said the United States Government through the USAID has received USD 50 Million in funding to help Zambia respond to, prevent, and recover from Covid-19.
Ms Musonda said, “Part of the funding comes from the Global VAX, a United States government effort to turn vaccines in vials into vaccination in the arms around the world. Zambia was selected as one of the first 11 countries in sub-Saharan Africa to receive to receive funding from global VAX.”
Ms Musonda noted that USAID has provided direct support to Zambia’s covid-19 response by supporting planning and coordination of community engagement, vaccine acceptance and administration , and prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of covid-19.
Lusaka District Commissioner Rosa Zulu who was represented by District Health director Rhoda Mkandawire expressed concern that the district has continued staggering in attaining the target despite it being the first to start the vaccination campaign in the country.