BIO-medical technologist arrested over fake COVID-19 certificates
The Anti-Corruption Commission(ACC) has arrested a Bio-medical technologist at the Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital (LMUTH) for corrupt practices involving suspected fake COVID-19 clearance certificates.
ACC Public Relations Manager Timoth Moono said Kingsley Kakoma, 35, of plot No. 11129 off Kasangula road in Garden compound, has been charged with one count of corrupt practices contrary to Section 19 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012.
In the statement to ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Moono stated that the arrest is in relation to the illegal issuance of Travelers’ Medical Certification for COVID-19, contrary to the Statutory Instruments No. 21 and No. 22 under the Public Health Act.
He pointed out that Kakoma was arrested by the Commission following a tip-off from the public.
Mr Moono further explained that the accused was found to be in possession of K2, 250 cash, and five blank COVID-19 clearance medical certificates which were pre-signed, marked negative, and bore a stamp for the Zambia Institute of Public Health.
He was also in possession of 86 preservation solution tubes, 50 sample collection swabs, among other items.
“Kakoma was arrested by the Commission following a tip-off from the public. He was found to be in possession of K2, 250 cash, and five blank COVID-19 clearance medical certificates which were pre-signed, marked negative, and bore a stamp for the Zambia Institute of Public Health. He was also in possession of 86 preservation solution tubes, 50 sample collection swabs, among other items,” the statement read in part.
He indicated that Kakoma who has since been released on bond was arrested after soliciting for, and actually receiving K800 from a student who was scheduled to travel abroad for studies.
Kasama General Hospital to have COVID-19 center
Kasama General Hospital says it has started expanding the COVID -19 isolation center at the institutions.
Kasama Hospital Acting Medical Superintendent Musiyani Simukonde said the development is aimed at addressing the inadequate bed capacity at the facility.
Dr. Simukonde explained that once complete, the hospital will be able to isolate more COVID-19 patients.
He said this when Kasama Central Member of Parliament Kelvin Sampa donated COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE) for front line health workers at the hospital.
And Dr. Simukonde said the donation of PPEs will go a long way in safeguarding the lives of health workers in the battle field who are fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We want to thank you for this donation to the front line workers, it will surely go a long way in safe guarding the lives of health workers,” he said.
He also disclosed that the hospital has started carrying out COVID -19 tests which the public have been urged to utilize.
Meanwhile, Kasama Central Member of Parliament Kelvin Sampa noted the risks that health front liners face in combating the COVID -19 pandemic.
Mr. Sampa said the efforts by the ministry of health to fight the pandemic cannot go unnoticed hence his gesture to donate 50 PPEs to the hospital.
He also encouraged health personnel to take COVID -19 preventive measures as they continue to battle the pandemic.
Mr. Sampa also thanked government for placing priority on combating the pandemic through it numerous interventions such as the provision of quality health care services to the COVID -19 patients.
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About 25.8 percent of children under the age of two in Solwezi district are Stunted
About 25.8 percent of children under the age of two in Solwezi district, Northwestern Province are reported to have stunted growth while 9.6 percent are underweight.
This is according to results of the baseline survey conducted in the district by the National Food and Nutrition Commission (NFNC) with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in 2019.
Northwestern Province Nutrition Coordinator, Kalumba Chishipula, who confirmed the findings to ZANIS in Solwezi yesterday, said 3.3 percent of children under two years have low weight for their height (wasting).
Mr Chishipula said the commission is working with various stakeholders to change the nutrition status of the district under the Scaling up Nutrition (SUN) which has recently been rolled out to Solwezi district.
“The NFNC with support from USAID last year (2019) conducted a baseline survey where we found that 25.8 percent of children under two years are stunted, 9.6 percent are underweight and 3.3 percent are wasting or have low weight for their height in Solwezi district.
“The nutrition status does not look good but with the coming of SUN phase II, we expect the nutrition status to change in the district,” Mr Chishipula said.
He said the district is in the process of developing a plan of activities to be conducted from October to December 2020 and January to December 2021.
“For Solwezi, our focus basically is to start forming Ward Nutrition Coordinating Committees at sub district level and also capacity building them in different components of the programme because under the Most Critical Days Programme, we have strategic objectives that we are looking at,” he said.
Meanwhile, National Food and Nutrition Commission Acting Deputy Executive Director, Freddie Mubanga said the Most Critical Days Programme has now been rolled out to 36 districts from the previous 14.
Mr Mubanga said phase II of the programme aims at promoting holistic and simultaneous delivery of nutrition and nutrition related services to the target beneficiaries to achieve greater impact.
He said adolescent girls are now part of the target population under phase II of the programme as they are becoming mothers at a tender age thereby, negatively impacting on delivery of nutrition services.
And speaking when she opened a district nutrition coordinating committee planning meeting, for scaling up nutrition-first one thousand critical days programme phase II, Solwezi District Commissioner, Rosemary Kamalonga called for implementable plans that will effectively contribute to the reduction of stunting levels through better nutrition.
Ms Kamalonga said there is a need to come up with plans that will speak to the nutrition needs of the communities, adding that line ministries should mainstream specific and sensitive nutrition interventions in their sector priorities.
“It is imperative that we put up plans at district level that will effectively contribute to stunting reduction through better nutrition. Better nutrition is related to improved infant, child, adolescent and maternal health, stronger immune systems, safer pregnancy and childbirth among other benefits,” she said.
The District Commissioner reiterated the government’s commitment towards fighting all forms of malnutrition and ensuring that stunting ceases to be a public health concern.
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