‘Intensify covid-19 screening in rural areas’

By SILUMESI MALUMOGOVERNMENT must intensify screening and testing for COVID-19 in rural areas to safeguard people’s lives, veteran politician Katele Kalumba has said.And Dr Kalumba applauded President Edgar Lungu for allowing businesses to operate in a quest to improve the economy.He said in an interview yesterday, there was need to intensify the screening and testing in rural areas order to protect people from covid-19.Dr Kalumba said screening and tests must not just be concentrated on the line rail but be rolled out in all corners of the country.He said that the process had not been heightened in areas like Chiengi district in Luapula Province and that this was a great source of concern.“We have not seen seriousness in screening and testing areas in areas which are not along the line of rail and as a result we might see cases escalating said. Dr Kalumba who is former Minister of FinanceDr Kalumba said health personnel must be proactive in all corners of the country for the fight against the pandemic to be won.Meanwhile Dr Kalumba says President Lungu must be commended for boosting the business sector as it was critical in improving the economy.The former minister noted that the measures which President Lungu had put in place such as the Covid-19 recovery fund which was cardinal in unlocking the sector hat had been hit hardly by the pandemic.