By MUYANI SHINJABALE
THERE should be strict compliance with the guidelines on preventing the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in order to preserve the right to health and life, says the Human Rights Commission (HRC).
The HRC believes that compliance was necessary in promoting and protecting the rights to health and life of citizens.
HRC spokesperson, Mwelwa Muleya, said preventing the spread of Corona virus was key in order to sustain the gains made so far.
Mr Muleya said the HRC had observed that while some people were observing the guidelines, social distancing largely remained a challenge, particularly in public places and public service vehicles such as buses.
He further noted that some essential workers had not been provided with adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), a situation that was compromising their rights to health and life.
He said this in a statement issued to the Daily Nation.
“This is of great concern because failure to adhere to the guidelines and providing Personal Protective Equipment to those in the frontline of fighting the coronavirus could reverse the progressive achievements being made towards containing the spread of COVID-19,” he said.
Mr Muleya said the right to life was linked to public health and it was absolutely necessary that all stakeholders continued to abide by the public health guidelines.
He said although guidelines such as restrictions on public gatherings would cause negative socio-economic effects, such measures had a legitimate objective of promoting public health and protecting life.
He, however, said there was also need for targeted measures for vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities, the elderly, child and female headed-households and others with underlying health conditions.
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