HEALTH EXPERTS MEET IN KABWE TO CHART WAY FORWARD FOR COVID
Health experts have convened in Kabwe to develop guidelines and a costed plan for the integration of COVID-19 vaccination into routine immunization and primary health care services.
This follows the declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 5th May this year, that COVID-19 be de-classified as a public health emergency of international concern.
And Health Permanent Secretary for Administration Christopher Simoonga says Zambia is among other countries seeking to transition from COVID-19 emergency response to a recovery mode and long-term sustainability.
In a speech read on his behalf by Central Province Health Director Abel Kabalo, during the official opening of a five-day National Stakeholders’ Consultative Workshop on the development of COVID-19 guidelines, Professor SIMOONGA said COVID-19 vaccine delivery needs to be incorporated into established routine health services.
He said the workshop is a significant milestone in the on-going efforts to control COVID-19 and that it is part of government’s commitment to building resilient healthcare system.
Meanwhile,the United Nations International Children’s office Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Country Representative for Health and HIV Monjur Hossain, says is hopeful that the meeting will pave way for the integration of COVID-19 vaccination into routine immunization programme.
