ZAMBIA: Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection Call on Government for Robust Enforcement of Preventive Measures as Second Wave of Covid-19 Hit Zambia
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
In an effort to limit transmission of Coronavirus in Zambia as the country experiences the second wave of Covid-19, the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) a civil society organization in the country, has called on the government to administer strict control measures to help stem the spread of the virus.
“JCTR believes that government must take a lead in enforcing Covid19 preventive measures by putting in place robust measures to contain the spreading of this new strain of the virus,” Members of the Jesuits said in a statement signed by JCTR Executive Director Fr. Alex Muyebe SJ, on Wednesday, January 13.
“JCTR joins other stakeholders in calling on the government to enforce wearing of masks in public places such as shopping malls, markets, bus stations and in public and private vehicles where there is more than one person on board,” the statement reads in part and continues, “We call for the full return and robust enforcement of the measures that were announced by the Head of State back in March and April last year.”
The Jesuit NGO also asked the government to temporarily stop all public gatherings, including all political rallies of “any shape or form.”
“We call on the Head of State to consider putting a halt to visiting of development projects because such visits inevitably draw crowds of people thereby endangering their health in this Covid era,” it highlighted in their Wednesday communique adding, “The safety and the lives of the Zambian people must be an all-time priority.”
According to the JCTR officials, Covid-19 has resurfaced in the country “with a strain that is spreading more quickly and easily than the previous strains.”
“The new variant of Coronavirus is not joking. It is severe, thriving on complacency and acute disregard of the standard Covid19 guidelines by both national leaders and the general public,” the Jesuits leadership noted their observation.
They added, “Unlike during the first wave of Covid-19 when we were accustomed to hearing of Covid cases at a distance, this time around, most of us have now Covid cases in our homes. Covid is no longer remote statistics out there. Unfortunately most of us now know of family members and friends who have become victims of Covid19. Some of us have even lost our beloved ones to Covid-19.”
JCTR laments that despite the reality of the second wave, business is continuing as usual in Zambia.
“JCTR is not only concerned but also worried that if non-compliance to Covid guidelines continues, our public health system will soon be overwhelmed leading to avoidable deaths. It is evident that Zambia is now facing a health crisis.”
“This crisis calls for leadership at all levels to help the country wade out of the crisis,” the statement concluded.
