Malawi secures covid-19 vaccine
President Dr Lazarus Chakwera has announced that Malawi has secured covid-19 vaccine which will target 3.8 million people.
In his national address at Kamuzu Palace on the war on Covid-19 Chakwera said the first consignment of the vaccine will arrive at the end of February in readiness for roll out in March.
The president said the vaccination will start with 20 percent of the population which prioritise workers, elderly and those with underlying conditions
In his speech the president disclosed that Malawian scientists will verify safety of the vaccine so that no one is misled by social media lies and propaganda against the vaccination
Chakwera said the new strain of corona virus from South Africa is in the country.
He explained that for the first time since the pandemic hit Malawi the country’s scientists at Malawi Liverpool Welcome Trust lab at Queen Elizabeth central hospital now have the capacity to sequence the virus that causes covid-19
“We have partnered with African and US centres for disease control to bring the same capacity to national public health lab in Lilongwe. This will reduce the country’s reliance on labs in South Africa for that service,” Chakwera
On this note the president has directed Ministry of health to ensure that Malawian scientists at College of Medicine are fully engaged in these developments within the country’s labs
The Malawi leader thanked Malawi police service for heeding his call to follow due process in the enforcement of covid-19 guidelines and minibus owners association of Malawi for their willingness to lower passenger number
The president also thanked teachers of form 4 and officials of Malawi National Examinations Board MANEB for successfully administering Malawi School Certificate of Examinations MSCE
However he expressed worry on incidents of new infections in funerals where people are not observing social distance, not wearing masks and comforting the bereaved physically
Chakwera called for a change in the way Malawians approach funerals for the sake of survival
“Therefore I have directed ministry of local government to work with councils and come up with guidelines for enforcing preventive measures at funerals,” Chakwera
He reported that 1,128 medical personnel have been identified and will be receiving their letters of appointment in 48 hours while interviews continue to recruit remaining 252 medical personnel
The President stressed that the focus now is to speed up the procurement of personal protective equipment for the front line workers especially surgical and N95 masks that are depleting rapidly.
He added that a group of engineers have designed two solutions for the supply of oxygen to covid-19 patients and the taskforce is reviewing the designs so that the implementation can be effected in due course
Chakwera said government has opened field hospital at Bingu National Stadium with 240 beds where 80 patients from Bwaila hospital and KCH have already been transferred there and are receiving high quality life saving care.
He stated that next week will give update of all those who have so far contributed materials and money to the fight in response to his plea two weeks ago
