Chakwera hails PAC on Covid-19 response
President Lazarus Chakwera has commended the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) for taking the lead in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking during a meeting at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre yesterday, Chakwera said through partnerships PAC has made, there is unified effort in the fight against the pandemic stressing that “no country is safe if the people don’t work together”.
Said the President: “This is a demonstration that the level of partnerships has to go up and it also shows a network that transcends the national boundaries. Covid-19 has shown us that we live in one global village where something that affects one part of the country also affects people elsewhere.”
He said the level of commitment that the quasi-rel igious body demonstrates in matters of national interest is beneficial, adding that if he could find a way, he could make PAC a Constitutional body.
Chakwera called for the need for stakeholders to come together and develop standardised messages, speak with one voice and move towards the same direction in the fight against Covid-19.
In an interview after the meeting, PAC chairperson Monsignor Patrick Thawale said the body aims to lead in matters of national interest with a common goal.
“As PAC, which is a quasi-religious grouping, we really want to be in the forefront fighting against the pandemic and that is why we incorporate our partners because together we can achieve a common purpose,” he said.
Thawale, however, said it is sad that some people are still avoiding the vaccine due to misinformation and doubts about its efficacy.
He said PAC will therefore continue engaging
various religious leaders to encourage their followership to take the vaccine.
According to Thawale, PAC also plans to hold a workshop to secure top faith leadership commitment towards a comprehensive framework that ensures a structured, unified and coherent approach in addressing the pandemic, its impact and beyond.
In a separate interview, United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) chief community development officer Matteo Frontini, who represented United Nations (UN) resident coordinator at the meeting, pledged continued commitment towards eradicating the pandemic.
He said: “Covid-19 has hit the country like the rest of the world and the partnerships and collaborations are really important in information dissemination. Unicef is engaging communities and faith leaders at community level to fight the pandemic, and we are also involving the Ministry of Information, among other stakeholders.”
During the meeting, PAC also gave masks to Chakwera, some of which they have given to communities as part of their Covid-19 response initiative.
The organisation has been sensitising communities and spreading Covid-19 messages through various media platforms with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
