By KETRA KALUNGA
THE Ministry of Health has warned against the abuse of Ivermetic medicine which is used for veterinary purposes and other unauthorized drugs by the public as COVID-19 treatment.
Health Minister, Jonas Chanda said the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) would not hesitate to mete out punitive measures to pharmacies and private health facilities abrogating the law by selling the the medicine to the public.
Dr. Chanda said the ministry has noted with concern the continued abuse of Ivermetic and other unsafe concoctions by the public.
He said in a statement that the ministry has continue to receive reports of organ failure such as renal failure resulting from uncontrolled use of these dangerous and unapproved medications.
“The minister of health retairates it alert to the public that unapproved drugs and concoctions are a danger to their health and safety and that is it of almost importance to use only approved medications from legitimate sources,” he said.
And Dr. Chanda said country has continued to recorded a reduction in the number of COVID-19 cases and has in the past week seen a drop of 0.6 percent.
Minister said country has recorded a reduction in the overall positivity from 8.8 percent to 8.2 percent in the last epidemiological week.
And Dr. Chanda said the number of admitted patients in COVID-19 isolation centres have also reduced from over 500 at the peak of the second wave on January to 169.
“Our combined efforts has continues to score positive gains towards flattening the epidemic curve. This past epidemiological week, we have recorded a further reduction in our overall positivity from 8.8 percent to 8.2 percent,” he said.
He has retairates the ministries approval to obtain cabinet approval for the use of COVID-19 vaccines in the country.
Dr. Chanda commended health workers for their selfless and tireless dedication to duty, the efforts he said has lead to a continued reduction of COVID-19 cases in the country.
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