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Supplying unsafe drugs and equipment is a serious violation of the right to life, HRC says 

Published

3 years ago

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THE Human Rights Commission (HRC) has called on Government to ensure that all those who played a role in facilitating the procurement, supply and distribution of unsafe drugs and medical supplies to the public should be held to account.
This follows revelation arising from the Auditor General’s report and further scrutiny by the Parliamentary Accounts Committee that defective condoms as well as gloves were distributed to the general public and have been in circulation since September, 2020.
In a media statement issued, HRC chairperson Mudford Mwandenga
said the revelation is a serious indictment on the part of the State and greatly undermines its obligation to ensure that every citizen enjoys the highest attainable standard of health.
Mr Mwandenga said the move is a serious violation of the right to life
owing to the interdependency and interrelatedness of human rights.
He said the distribution of the defective health commodities is also a violation of the right to health.
“The distribution of defective condoms and gloves has great potential to negatively impact on the enjoyment of the right to health particularly efforts aimed at fighting the AIDS pandemic. There is a huge risk that some people could have contracted HIV and AIDS on account of using such defective medical supplies,” he said.
He further said from the prevalence of HIV among adults aged 15 to 59 in Zambia, approximately 980,000 people living with HIV may have been exposed to health risks arising from the supply and distribution of the defective medical kits and unsafe medicines.
“This may reverse the gains made in the fight against HIV and AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases and, in turn, impair the enjoyment of the right to health,” Mr Mwandenga said.
He said efforts to fight COVID-19 pandemic  has also been undermined as health workers and other front-line staff in the prevention and control of the spread COVID-19 pandemic make use of protective gloves among other Personal Protective Equipment to protect themselves and others from contracting the virus.
Mr Mwandenga said it is of great concern that the Government allowed the distribution and use of substandard gloves in health facilities which undermined the occupational safety of health workers and other frontline staff and, in turn, endangering their lives as well safety of members of the public who could have accessed health service.
“The Commission is aware that the Anti-Corruption Commission is already carrying out investigations into the matter which have reached an advanced stage. The Commission wishes to call upon the public to allow for lawfully mandated institutions such as the Anti-Corruption Commission to carry out their mandate effectively,” he said.
Mr Mwandenga has further urged Government to ensure that there is effective tracing of, and support to the victims in order to avoid putting their health and that of other people at any further risk.

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Health

8,000 lives lost to cancer every year in Zambia

Published

4 weeks ago

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November 11, 2023

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MINISTER of Health Sylvia Masebo has revealed that nearly 8,000 cancer patients succumb to the disease each year in Zambia.

Speaking in the Parliament yesterday , Ms. Masebo highlighted that over 70 percent of the fatalities occur in stages three and four, which are deemed incurable but could still offer a good quality of life with appropriate treatment.

The minister disclosed that alongside the 8,000 deaths, Zambia records more than 13,000 new cancer cases annually.

She said government is, however actively working to enhance the Cancer Diseases Hospital (CDH), a critical healthcare facility in the country.

Ms Masebo further informed the House that significant progress has been made in revitalising CDH, with additional efforts directed towards expanding cancer treatment services.

She said new cancer centers have been established in Livingstone and on the Copperbelt in Ndola, with the latter expected to be operational by June next year.

Responding to an urgent question from Nakonde Member of Parliament Luka Simumba, Ms. Masebo stressed the commitment of the government to address the challenges posed by the rising cancer cases.

“Madam Speaker, The House may wish to note that Zambia today confirms 13,852 new cancer cases per year, and nearly 8,000 patients die per year because more than 70 percent of these cancer patients are in stage three and four, which are incurable, but can still have a good quality of life with adequate treatment,” she said.

Ms. Masebo said CDH attends to 3,000 patients annually, with 1,800 requiring radiotherapy treatment.

She expressed concern that the diagnostic and radiation treatment machines, installed by Siemens in 2006, have become obsolete and were scheduled for replacement between 2016 and 2019.

“The New Dawn Administration under the able leadership of His Excellency Mr Hakainde Hichilema the President of the Republic of Zambia, measures by allocating money K12 million for repair of the two CT scanners and the MRI in 2022 and in the 2023 Budgets allocation of K300 million to revamp the operations of the facility has been done,” she said.

(Mwebantu, Saturday, 11th November, 2023)

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Health

Anthrax outbreak: 335 cases and four deaths reported across six provinces

Published

1 month ago

on

November 1, 2023

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MINISTRY of Health has disclosed that 335 cases of Anthrax and four deaths have been recorded in six provinces.

The affected provinces are Southern with 269 cases, Western 19, Eastern 30, Lusaka 13, North Western 1 and Muchinga with 3 cases.

Minister of Health Sylvia Masebo said a 12-year-old boy from Muchinga is among the victims that have succumbed to the disease.

Ms Masebo said this when she gave an update on the events threatening the public health security in the country.

“A cumulative 335 cases and four deaths have been reported across the country in the following provinces Southern, Western, Eastern, Lusaka, North Western and Muchinga,” the minister said.

Ms Masebo warned the public against consuming meat from unknown sources.

She said meat should be bought from designated butcheries to prevent the spread of the disease.

Ms Masebo said the ministry has also implemented measures to contain and prevent the spread of Anthrax.

She said reorientation of staff on disease identification and management to ensure early diagnosis and treatment among other measures.

(Mwebantu, Wednesday, 1st November, 2023)

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Health

26 cholera cases recorded in Lusaka, with 2 deaths.

Published

1 month ago

on

October 27, 2023

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MINISTER of Health Sylvia Masebo has told parliament that 26 confirmed cases of cholera have been recorded in Lusaka.

Ms Masebo said the ministry has also recorded two cholera deaths.

She explained that on August 18 the public was informed that a case of cholera was reported in Kanyama area.

Ms Masebo said as of October 25 health facilities noted a few more cholera cases in Lusaka.

She said this in a ministerial statement on the cholera outbreak situation in Zambia.

“To date there have been 26 confirmed cases of cholera in Lusaka and we are deeply saddened to report that two lives, one which occurred in the community, have been lost as a result of this outbreak. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families affected by this,” the minister said.

She said health workers are working in the community to ensure that cases are identified and managed on time.

Ms Masebo said the Government is also distributing chlorine for household use and environmental decontamination among other measures to prevent the spread of the outbreak.

(Mwebantu, Friday, 27th October, 2023)

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