HEALTH authorities in Chililabombwe district have set a target of vaccinating about 17,000 people against the Coronavirus (COVID-19) by the end of December this year to avert the consequences of the anticipated fourth wave of the pandemic.
District Health Director, Prince Kaputula said there will be a district re-launch of the vaccination exercise as well as launches in all the 24 wards to enhance publicity on the ongoing programme to ensure more people get vaccinated.
Briefing newly appointed Chililabombwe District Commissioner, Precious Njekwa, Dr Kaputula said the nation is scheduled to vaccinate about two million people by the end of December this year hence the resolve for Chililabombwe to vaccinate 17 000 people over the same period.
Dr Kaputula said health authorities will embark on a door to door vaccination programme with two health workers and two volunteers to cater for each ward to enhance the effectiveness of the exercise.
He highlighted the need to prioritise completion of the construction of the district hospital whose first phase is at 90 percent to enhance the provision of health services to the people of Chililabombwe.
The Health Director said the authorities in the district were spending a lot of funds on referrals to Chingola and Kitwe from Kakoso first level hospital when faced with complicated cases hence the need for the completion of the district hospital.
Chililabombwe, which currently has no ambulance and uses a utility vehicle for referrals, has 13 health centres with the newly constructed posts still under the hands of the contractors though they are already functional.
Dr Kaputula intimated that the measles outbreak which was recorded recently from Kasumbalesa area has been contained as the patients who were isolated have been discharged and are being monitored.
And Ms Njekwa called for discipline and hard work among health workers in the district to ensure that there are no disease outbreaks with the onset of the rain season which have the capacity to complicate the fight against COVID-19.
Ms Njekwa was optimistic that the district would benefit from the 11 200 health workers to be recruited next year as espoused in the 2022 national budget to improve staffing levels and the provision of quality health services.
The District Commissioner cautioned the health workers against participating in partisan politics and tribalism which have the potential of undermining the provision of quality health services.
ZANIS
