Covid-19 vaccine messages interpreted in local languages

By SANFROSSA MANYINDA GOVERNMENT says it has made headway in the development of messages for the public, with the information materials being interpreted into local languages. This is aimed at ensuring key messages around the vaccines are widely disseminated as it is finalising the Covid-19 vaccine communication strategy.  Health Minister, Jonas Chanda, said Government remained committed to ensuring commodity security for the frontline health workers and encouraged all staff to exercise prudent in the use of the supplies, more so in the face of the continued high global demand. Dr Chanda said the surveillance teams remained key to our preparedness efforts as their data was utilised to project and plan ahead. He said Government would also have continued to invest in genomic sequencing as part of the routine surveillance to monitor the evolution of the virus and the different strains and variants in circulation around the country. “We will continue to employ a multi-sectoral approach to the response. We are indebted to our leaders in the communities, including the clergy and traditional leadership, for setting a great example for our people by adhering to the five golden rules and fostering behaviour change,” he said. Dr Chanda also announced a new death from Covid-19 related complications has been recorded in the last 24 hours. About 315 new cases were recorded out of 7, 261 tests conducted bringing the cumulative number of confirmed cases recorded to date to 89, 386. He said 71 discharges were recorded from both the Covod-19 isolation facilities and home management, bringing the cumulative number of recoveries to 85, 409.