Covid-19 delays health workers presidential honour
Health care workers will have to wait longer to get presidential recognition for their dedication due to Covid-19 restrictions on public gatherings.
In an interview yesterday, presidential press secretary Brian Banda said the State House and Ministry of Health have just concluded consultations on how to identify recipients of the Zikomo Presidential Award.
He said the State House will announce the date of the award ceremony after getting guidance from the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19.
Said Banda: “These awards will probably attract a bigger crowd and right now the number of people allowed to attend a public gathering is 50.
“ So we a r e jus t monitoring the situation in as far as Covid-19 is concerned. As soon as the numbers are relaxed, then we should be able to host such kind of event.”
During his weekly address on August 1 2020, President Lazarus Chakwera announced introduction of the award to be presented quarterly to five most dedicated health care workers in the fight against Covid-19. He said awardees will be nominated by their peers nationwide.
In a separate interview yesterday, Society of Medical Doctors president Victor Mithi said health care workers through their respective associations and groups completed the identification process.
He said they were waiting for communication from either the State House or Ministry of Health.
In announcing the award, Chakwera observed that health care workers were instrumental in the fight against the pandemic; hence, the need to appreciate their efforts.
According to Mithi, about 1 300 health care workers contracted coronavirus in the line of duty since April 2 2020 when the country registered its first three cases.
