Zambian Breweries has partnered with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and industry stakeholders to up the ante in the fight against COVID-19.
As Zambia braces itself for the 4th wave and works to contain the Omicron variant the Company teamed up with the Ministry, the Bars and Night Clubs Owners Association of Zambia (BNCOAZ), and the Lusaka City Council (LCC) in a COVID-19 community sensitization drive in Chawama where they further distributed kits consisting of hand sanitisers and face masks to help fight the pandemic.
“We cannot fight COVID-19 alone, we must partner and work together with other stakeholders to take down the pandemic,” said Zambian Breweries Country Director Michelle Kilpin.
Zambian Breweries truly believes in the ability of communities to effect change for a better world when they come together for a common cause.
“Please vaccinate, vaccinate,” emphasised Kilpin.
She further urged BNCOAZ to continue encouraging their customers to wear face masks, maintain social distancing and encourage vaccinations, nodding willingness to work with the various stakeholders to ensure business continuity amidst the pandemic.
“We are currently facing the fourth wave, the Omicron variant right here in Zambia. We all must do our part to ensure that we safeguard ourselves and our loved ones against the pandemic,” she added.
Speaking at the event Ministry of Health Director Public Health Dr. Abel Kabalo was pleased with the efforts that the company and stakeholders were making in standing with the government and getting behind national efforts to curb the pandemic.
“It is an encouragement, and we are happy to partner with Zambian Breweries to ensure that we are all onboard to create a healthy Zambia that is economically active,” said Dr. Kabalo.
Vaccination booths were set up at the event for the benefit of willing members of the public.
“We have seen what COVID-19 has done, it even forced us to close down the economy. But we have a chance and opportunity through the vaccine to go on with our normal lives because we will know that we are protected.”
“As a government, we are targeting about 70% of the eligible population to get vaccinated so we can be protected, and our businesses go own well.”
Zambian Breweries has already undertaken similar sensitization initiatives in-house and through the Ministry of Health has facilitated onsite COVID-19 voluntary vaccinations for its staff at both its Lusaka and Ndola plants with an encouraging number opting to do so.
The COVID-19 awareness initiatives by Zambian Breweries, Ministry of Health, LCC, and BNCOAZ are imperative to continue educating and dispelling myths around the pandemic on the individual and national level so that citizens are more prepared and able to combat the pandemic from the very top down to the family unit.
