The Ministry of Health says Government will strengthen its partnership with private medical facilities to build capacity and strengthen referral services in the wake of Covid-19.
Speaking during the routine Covid-19 updates, Minister in charge Dr. Chitalu Chilufya stated that this is because the Ministry has noted late referrals from private health facilities, a situation he says must not continue.
Dr. Chilufya appealed to private health facilities to ensure they refer both suspected and confirmed Covid-19 cases early, in the spirit of partnership with the public sector.
“We will strengthen our partnership with our private medical facilities to build capacity and also ensure that we strengthen referral services.”
“We have noted late referrals from private health facilities and our plea is to both private facilities and to the public that let us ensure when we receive our patients in our private medical facilities, in the spirit of partnership with the public sector, we refer both suspected and confirmed cases early, this will help improve outcomes.”
He further urged the public to report to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) and other designated Covid-19 facilities whenever they suspect Covid-19 as this is not time for business as usual.

Dr. Chilufya said government will endeavor to protect its partnership with private medical facilities because they are a critical stakeholder in its agenda for universal health coverage.
“Equally to the public, this is not time to do business as usual, there are designated Covid facilities and it is important that you report to the University Teaching Hospital when you are a suspect and we have adequate space, pending results. The University Teaching Hospital has a portion that has been dedicated to suspects. We take you in, we swab you, wait for results and if you are positive we take you to Levy.”
“We will protect our partnership with private medical facilities they are a critical stakeholder in President Edgar Lungu’s agenda for universal health coverage,” Dr. Chilufya said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Chilufya disclosed that Zambia has recorded 496 cases of Covid-19, with 4 deaths in the last 24 hours.
He said among the 4 fatalities, 3 are brought in dead cases recorded in Ndola and Chililabombwe on the Copperbelt respectively, while one is a facility death at Levy Mwanawasa isolation center.
Dr. Chilufya added that the number of cases in the country now stands at 9,839 including 264 deaths and 8,575 recoveries.
“In the last 24 hours, Zambia recorded a spike in Covid-19 cases, we recorded 496 new cases out of 1,549 tests done. We also recorded a facility death at Levy Mwanawasa, and we recorded three BIDs, 1 in Ndola and Two in Chililabombwe, that is a worrisome picture for the Copperbelt,” he stated.
He added that currently, 65 patients are admitted to Levy Mwanawasa isolation Centre and that 7 of them are in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and require critical care.
“The other parts of the country we have a total of 28 patients. We continue to see the geographical spread of Covid-19, and we are all summoned to the table to take individual responsibility,” Dr. Chilufya said.