PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has ordered the recruitment of an army of 3400 health personnel to fight the COVID-19.
Health minister Dr Chitalu Chilufya made the announcement this afternoon during the COVID-19 daily update in Lusaka this afternoon.
The minister announced that there was no confirmed case of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours after running tests on 90 people.
He said the number of COVID-19 patients remained at 36 while the Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital had discharged five people who had initially exhibited symptoms but eventually tested negative for the Coronavirus.
To intensify the fight against the virus that has killed more than 35,000 people worldwide and infected more than 700,000 people globally, Dr Chilufya announced that government would employ 400 doctors and 3000 paramedics.
“In a bid to tighten and scale-up the fight against Covid19, President Edgar Lungu has directed that 400 doctors and over 3,000 paramedics are to be recruited with immediate effect,” Dr Chilufya said.
The minister also announced that President Lungu had ordered that the the medical staff testing, treating and following up cases of the COVID-19 be motivated with an incentive.
Dr Chilufya described the medical staff in the Frontline as heroes of the nation.
“Incentives will be provided to frontline health workers in order to motivate and support them carry out their work in combating,” he said.
As it stands, Zambia has recorded 36 positive results since the virus was identified.
He did not specify what the incentive would be.
Dr Chilufya further stressed that Zambians should adhere to the given guidelines of staying home and avoid leaving or coming to Lusaka which is the epicenter.