By AARON CHIYANZO in Kapiri Mposhi
THE Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) has set aside K50 million for the procurement of reusable masks from local suppliers to distribute in markets, bus stations and other public places.
And President Edgar Lungu has directed the DMMU to work with the Ministry of Health, local authorities and other stakeholders to ensure that public places, including markets and bus stations are equipped with Covid-19 preventive equipment.
DMMU national coordinator Chanda Kabwe said K15 million had already been released towards the exercise.
Mr Kabwe said the unit was targeting to buy 5, 000, 000 masks from local suppliers.
He said this in Kapiri Mposhi yesterday when President Lungu toured Tambalale Market to check on Covid-19 compliance.
President Lungu also inspected the newly refurbished Kapiri Mposhi Bus Terminus where he also distributed masks, sanitisers and other Covid-19 preventive equipment.
Mr Kabwe assured the President that distribution of Covid-19 preventive equipment in public places would be done swiftly.
And President Lungu urged local authorities to ensure that people entering markets and other public places adhere to Covid-19 preventive measures all the time.
He emphasised the importance of customers and traders masking up, sanitising and observing social distancing.
President Lungu said the pandemic was becoming lethal with threats of new variants.
“This pandemic is becoming something else, it’s becoming lethal so we all have to mask up and sanitise all the time,” he said.
President Lungu also checked on operations at Matilyo Clinic.
