ZAMBIA Situation Report Last Updated: 15 Jun 2020
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ZAMBIA Situation Report Last updated: 15 Jun 2020 HIGHLIGHTS (15 Jun 2020) The first imported COVID-19 case was reported on 18 March 2020 and as of 08 June 1,200 cases have been confirmed, including ten deaths. Out of the country’s 119 districts, 27 have reported cases of COVID-19. Laboratory testing and reagents have been identified as key challenge. On 8 May, the Government withdrew some of the initial measures and recommended opening of schools for student examination years, restaurants and gyms. During a food distribution in Siakasipa FDP, Kazungula District, people wait to receive assistance maintaining social On 1 June, examination classes in both primary and distancing. Photo: World Vision secondary re-opened on condition that all public health guidelines and regulations are enforced. KEY FIGURES FUNDING CONTACTS Laura Hastings 10.1M 6.2M $132.9M $6.7M Humanitarian Affairs Officer, Zambia people in need people targeted requested (May-Oct received [email protected] 2020) Guiomar Pau Sole 27 Communications & Information partners operational 7.8% Management, Regional Office for funded Southern & Eastern Africa [email protected] BACKGROUND (15 Jun 2020) Situation Overview Zambia recorded its first case of COVID-19 on 18 March 2020 and, as 8 June, 1,200 cases had been confirmed and 10 deaths reported. Out of the 119 districts, 27 districts have reported COVID-19 cases. The Government of Zambia introduced a series of measures to mitigate against the spread of the virus including closure of regional airports, restrictions of public gatherings of more than 50 people, closures of religious institutes, bars and restaurants. On 8 May, the Government receded on some of the initial measures and recommended the COVID-19 cases by district https://reports.unocha.org/en/country/zambia Page 1 of 9 Downloaded: 15 Jun 2020 ZAMBIA Situation Report Last updated: 15 Jun 2020 opening of schools for student examination years and opening of restaurants and gyms subject to adhere to public health measures and to social distancing. The wearing of masks in public places became mandatory and all retail business are required to have handwashing/ sanitizers amenities at entrances of their businesses. On 10 May, the Nakonde District which borders Tanzania became a COVID-19 hotspot with more than 609 cases (including 84 symptomatic cases), representing more than 50 per cent of the total cases in country. The confirmed cases widely related to cross border interaction with Tanzania this includes immigration officers, truck drivers, sex workers, health workers and known contacts. A 10-day lockdown was implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within the district. Initial findings from the multi-sectoral response mission which deployed to Nakonde from 16 to 22 May highlighted the following urgent priorities for increased support: health workers capacity (personnel and resources) on infection prevention and control (IPC) and case management of patients with COVID-19 in designated hospitals; laboratory capacity to test and provide timely results; support to the district health office to implement home-based care approach with asymptomatic cases and ensure the availability of sufficient and appropriately trained community health volunteers to conduct house to house follow up; community sensitization on COVID-19 prevention, promotion of social distancing and advocating the wearing masks in public places especially in markets alongside regular handwashing. Further, there is a need to improve cross border collaboration to mitigate the risk of cross border transmission. In May, the Government of Zambia COVID-19 Multisectoral Contingency & Response Plan and the UN and partners COVID-19 Emergency Appeal were officially launched by the Vice President Inonge Wina. The UN and partners’ Appeal requires US$132.9 million to support the COVID-19 multisectoral response targeting 6.2 million people. CLUSTER STATUS (14 Jun 2020) Education 5,000 555K IEC material printed and distributed pupils targeted Needs Nation-wide school closure resulted in disruption of learning and critical services for more than 4.4 million children and adolescents including school feeding programs for disadvantaged children. Teachers face unprecedented challenges of ensuring the continuity of learning for their pupils while caring for their own and their families’ safety. Prolonged school closure puts children especially girls, at increased risk of teenage pregnancy, sexual abuse, child marriage and other harmful practices. Many schools in the rural area are under-resourced and ill-equipped to provide support to the students learning at home and parents are unable to support children’s learning, widening the equity gap between the well-off and worse- off in learning, potentially leading to life-long negative impact. The Ministry of General Education (MoGE) COVID-19 Response and Recovery Plan highlights the continuity of learning as its core priority and presents a series of education delivery options and strategies. Response https://reports.unocha.org/en/country/zambia Page 2 of 9 Downloaded: 15 Jun 2020 ZAMBIA Situation Report Last updated: 15 Jun 2020 The sector supported the MoGE to coordinate partner activities through facilitating the Education in Emergency Working Group (EiEWG)to ensure partner resources are directed towards supporting COVID-19. Supported MoGE in developing COVID-19 Response and Recovery Plan that prioritizes the continuity of learning especially for the disadvantaged children and aims to systematically strengthen the alternative and distance learning for all children, and UN supported MoGE on the development of school opening guideline and supported schools re-opening for examination grades only (Grade 7, 9 and 12) with holistic support to learners and teachers. In collaboration with the MoGE developing radio learning contents for Grade 1 to 7 in three core subjects (Language, Math’s, Science) in all seven local languages. The scripts are ready for the 8-week long contents (3 weeks contents of school Term 1- and 5-weeks contents school Term 2) for all grades and the protocol to air the lesson is underway. Agencies supported the production and broadcasting of child-friendly radio messages in local languages on COVID- 19 on the national radio station, Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation, and is finalized the broadcasting of these messages to four community radio stations in Western, Southern, Copper belt and Eastern provinces. Supported the procurement of 3-in-1 radios (chargeable by electricity, solar and use batteries) for primary schools to continue accessing live school radio sessions broadcast on the national broadcaster and local radio stations. Developed child-friendly IEC materials in four local languages which have been printed and soft copies shared with partners and government for further reproduction. Over 2,000 posters on handwashing and COVID-19 messages and 4,000 booklets were distributed to the field offices. Additional 5,000 IEC materials on positive parenting during COVID- 19 are in the process of being developed for print. Supported the printing of easy to read literacy materials for children in non-examination classes to improve their reading skills; procurement of Smart Phones for Secondary school children in examination classes to access the E- Learning Portal while they are at home; printing of the modules for the secondary school children that are not in examination classes, procurement of WASH supplies (buckets with lids and stands); cleaning materials, soap, hand sanitizers and masks for schools after they open and procured 348 hand washing facilities and 6,000 hygiene kits for learners. Gaps Inadequate technical expertise and learning materials in local languages on distance and alternative education limited continued education support during COVID-19 school closure. Lack of adapted distance learning material to the needs of children with special education needs further disrupted special needs children learning process. Lack of communication infrastructure and electricity coverage in rural locations restricted distance learning coverage to urban and peri-urban area. Difficulty of remote support and monitoring of children’s learning progress will impact on the quality of education and needs further support. CLUSTER STATUS (15 Jun 2020) Health https://reports.unocha.org/en/country/zambia Page 3 of 9 Downloaded: 15 Jun 2020 ZAMBIA Situation Report Last updated: 15 Jun 2020 1,200 5M COVID-19 cases (as of 8 June) people targeted Needs Zambia recorded its first case of COVID-19 on 18 March 2020 and, as 8 June 1,200 cases had been confirmed and 10 deaths reported. Out of the 119 districts, 27 districts have reported COVID-19 cases. However, the laboratory system has not enough capacity to test for COVID-19. The Nakonde District which borders Tanzania is one of the main COVID-19 hotspots with more than 609 cases, more than 50 per cent of the total cases in country. The confirmed cases widely related to cross border interaction with Tanzania, including immigration officers, truck drivers, sex workers, health workers and known contacts. Border capacity to manage risk from ground crossings and un-manned border points has to be strengthened. Misinformation, and complacency by communities over time remain key concerns. Response Technical assistance and logistical support provided to the district health offices in managing event-based surveillance and field investigation continued in Lusaka, Shibuyunji and Chirundu districts. Four surveillance and IPC technical personnel were deployed