Pope Francis donates 3 ventilators to ZCCB By

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Pope Francis donates 3 ventilators to ZCCB

 

By Derrick Sinjela -Kwilanzi News Zambia in Lusaka’s Kabulonga area

POPE Francis through the Vatican Ambassador to Zambia and Malawi Archbishop Gianfranco Gallone handed over 3 Ventilators to Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) health centres; namely Cardinal Adam Memorial Hospital in Lusaka’s Bauleni Township, Chilonga Mission Hospital, Mpika District of Muchinga Province and St. Dominics’ Mission Hospital, Copperbelt Province.

The three Ventilators were
received by Bishop Moses Hamungole of the Diocese of Monze, on Monday 25th May, 2020 at Kapingila House ( Kabulonga Rd) in Lusaka, Zambia at an event moderated by ZCCB Spokesperson Father Winfield Kunda.

MINISTRY of Health (MoH) Permanent Secretary for Technical Services Dr. Kennedy Malama extolled the Catholic Church for working in line with the Zambian Government’s strategic response to covid 19 pandemic.

Currently working under Health Minister, Dr. Chitalu Chilufya, Dr. Malama said globally the number of covid cases had increased to more than 5, 335, 868 cases in more than 216 countries, and 341, 549 confirmed deaths as at Sunday 24th May 2020.

Dr. Malama said while cases in Western Europe seem to be reducing, more cases are being reported in Africa, noting that at the last count Zambia had a total of 970 confirmed cases, seven (7) deaths and 514 recoveries.

According to Dr. Malama, confirmed cases have been recorded in Muchinga, Central, Copperbelt, North-Western and Northern provinces.

Dr. Malama restated that the Zambian Government through the leadership of Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu and Vice President Ms Inonge Mutukwa-Wina had approved a multi-sectoral covid 19 Response Plan, currently informing high impact interventions, smartly speaking to the agenda of attaining universal health coverage, through health systems using an integrated community based primary health care approach.

Dr. Malama says key pillars of surveillance, laboratory and diagnostics, infection prevention and control, case management, risk communication and community engagement, supply chain and stock pilling of commodities, ensuring adequate and competent human resource are being exerted beyond the covid 19 pandemic by the Ministry of Health.

On his part, the Vatican Ambassador to Zambia and Malawi Archbishop Gianfranco Gallone restated Pope Francis call to tackle the covid 19 pandemic in unison.

Archbishop Gianfranco Gallone implored for appropriate messaging by the media and society as a whole in order to stem the covid 19 pandemic.

Archbishop Gianfranco Gallone noted that Pope Francis’s ecumenical philantrophy was done
through the Vatican Pharmacy in collaboration with the Apostolic Eleemosynary “Generous in assistance to the poor” for supporting the needs of Zambia in the fight against the dreaded covid 19 pandemic.

Said
Archbishop Gianfranco Gallone: “I know that it is a small gesture in this moment, but the Holy Father is helping all the African countries sending the same contribution; it is his concern as a good father towards those that are suffering and do not have the necessary means to be able to cure themselves. The three ventilators will be positioned in the three identified Catholic hospitals, which are without proper instruments to help covid 19 patients, who are not able to go to the special centres established by the Ministry of Health.

Archbishop Gianfranco Gallone described Pope Francis as being close to those suffering and with this gesture of charity had extended His paternal presence.

Archbishop Gianfranco Gallone implored society to take heed that once maintaining social distancing, applying indications by the Ministry of Health, all people can avoid contracting the contagious disease.

Archbishop Gianfranco Gallone noted that The Holy See ( Pope Francis) is equally concerned about those that have lost jobs and currently suffering from shortage of food.

Archbishop Gianfranco Gallone said:”Aided by his collaborators, He has great desire to find right ways of implementing charitable interventions for a possible food emergency throughout Africa. We hope that the situation could be mitigated by the aid of the international community”.

Archbishop Gianfranco Gallone ended his message by quoting the words of the Holy Father: “I express my closeness to those who are suffering from covid 19, to those who are dedicated to their care and to all those who, in any way, are suffering from the pandemic. At the same time, I would like to support and encourage the international cooperation that is launching various initiatives aimed at responding adequately and effectively to the serious crisis we are experiencing. Indeed, it in important to bring together scientific capabilities in a transparent and disinterested way, in order to find the vaccine and treatment and to guarantee universal access to essential technologies that will enable every infected person, in every part of the world, to receive the necessary health care”(Pope Francis).

Archbishop Gianfranco Gallone prayed that the Almighty God will help Zambia overcome the present sad moment in unity of hearts as the national anthem says: “Stand and sing of Zambia, proud and free, Land of work and joy in unity…Praise be to God…Bless our great Natio …All one, Strong and Free”. Mulungu Dalizani Zambia!

 

And representing ZCCB President Bishop George Lungu, Bishop Moses Hamungole of the Diocese of Monze applauded Pope Francis for rendering help.

Bishop Hamungole prodded Doubting Thomasses, not to fall in the biblical despair pit of those that defied Noah, as in the end one is bound to regret, if positive counsel is ignored.

ZCCB Secretary General Father Cleophas Lungu explained that aside from the 3 Ventilators, surgical masks and N95 masks were being received as Zambia commemorates the African Freedom Day.

In a Vote of Thanks, Sister (Sr.) Elizabeth Njovu from St. Dominic Mission hospital said the donation will ultimately save lives, make their mission work easy and offer excellent response services in the three facilities; Cardinal Adam Memorial Hospital in Lusaka’s Bauleni Township, Chilonga Mission Hospital, Mpika District of Muchinga Province and St. Dominics’ Mission Hospital, Copperbelt Province.

Sister Njovu lamented that the covid 19 pandemic had taken a toll on the lives of everyone globally, noted by a shift on how daily activities are being undertaken.

“The health sector, being at the Frontline in the fight against the scourge has faced the most impact mainly because the fight has taken a collosal amount of resources which would have been allocated evenly to fights of other health issues,” said Sister Njovu.

Sister Njovu observed that collaboration and relationship building are imperative in fighting the covid 19 pandemic because it’s negative impact is spread on on sectors of human existence.

“It is heart-warming and is evident of the progress we are making in trying to ensure that the spread of the pandemic is curbed and ultimately securing the Zambian nation. As it is widely sensitized, the fight against covid 19 can be achieved by maintaining certain public health measures which are mainly surrounding sanitation and hygiene,” an appreciative Sister Elizabeth Njovu, from St. Dominic Mission Hospital said.

Contact: Mwenya Mukuka on 0977618911 www.derricksinjela.blogspot.com