Posts

Call for Better Sickle Cell Care

Image
Experts, patients and caregivers urge stronger systems, early diagnosis and community action to close survival gaps By Lusaka, Zambia24 – (20-06-2026) --- People living with sickle cell disease can lead healthy, productive and fulfilling lives if communities better understand the condition, support affected families, promote early diagnosis and treatment, and work to eliminate stigma and misconceptions. The call was made during a World Sickle Cell Day Commemorative Scientific Symposium and Patient Summit held under the theme: “Closing the Survival Gap: Equity in Sickle Cell Care.” Speaking at the event, Dr. Mmamulatelo Siame said sickle cell disease should not be treated as a condition managed by hospitals alone, but as a shared responsibility that involves families, schools, caregivers and communities. “We want to focus on our warriors, but also on the community because parents, brothers, sisters, teachers and friends all have a role to play,” she said. Dr. Siame explained that s...
Post a Comment
Read more

Protect Economic Gains

Image
Hikaumba urges workers to back HH as 2026 election campaigns intensify By Francis Maingaila ♥️  Lusaka, Zambia24 --- (18-06-2026) -- Former Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Leonard Hikaumba has urged workers and citizens to support President Hakainde Hichilema, saying the country must safeguard economic gains as election campaigning gathers momentum ahead of the 2026 General Elections. Hikaumba told Zambia24 that the UPND government has made progress in stabilising the economy, improving governance, and strengthening engagement with labour unions during its current term in office. He said the campaign period should focus on assessing leadership based on performance rather than political promises, warning workers against being influenced by what he described as election rhetoric. Hikaumba said employment opportunities had increased through recruitment in key sectors such as education, health, and security services, while dialogue between government and labour unions had ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Unequal Care Fuels Sickle Cell Deaths

Image
Experts warn that gaps in access, delayed diagnosis, and uneven treatment continue to cost lives despite available therapies in Zambia. By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zamvia24.  -- (June 19, 2026 ) — Zambia has the tools and treatments needed to manage sickle cell disease, but lives are still being lost because access to care, awareness, and equity remain inadequate. Lusaka Province Health Director Dr Aspha Choonga delivered the warning as he officiated the World Sickle Cell Day Scientific Commemorative Symposium and Patient Summit in Lusaka under the theme, “Closing the Survival Gap – Equity in Sickle Cell Care.” He said sickle cell disease can be effectively managed through early diagnosis, continuous care, and proven treatments, but many patients still die prematurely due to gaps in service delivery and inconsistent access, especially in rural areas. Dr Choonga said Zambia continues to face a clear survival gap, where children born in well-served urban areas have better chanc...
Post a Comment
Read more

Africa Faces Weather Extremes

Image
Experts warn of severe droughts and floods as El Niño risks intensify, urging urgent preparedness, stronger early warning systems, and coordinated climate action across the continent. By Francis Maingaila ♥️  Lusaka, Zambia24 -- (June 19, 2026 ) — African climate experts, government officials, and international organisations have warned of heightened risks from an approaching El Niño cycle, calling for stronger preparedness, improved early warning systems, and increased investment in climate resilience across the continent. Zambia’s Director of Meteorology in the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, Edson Nkonde said that Africa must prepare for possible severe droughts and floods within the next three years, and the warning emerged during the Continental Climate Outlook Forum hosted in Zambia, where participants said the risks could vary depending on regional climate variations. Nkonde said the forum provided a platform for assessing projected climate conditions and preparing se...
Post a Comment
Read more

Unequal Care Fuels Sickle Cell Deaths

Image
Experts warn that gaps in access, delayed diagnosis, and uneven treatment continue to cost lives despite available therapies in Zambia. By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zamvia24.  -- (June 19, 2026 ) — Zambia has the tools and treatments needed to manage sickle cell disease, but lives are still being lost because access to care, awareness, and equity remain inadequate. Lusaka Province Health Director Dr Aspha Choonga delivered the warning as he officiated the World Sickle Cell Day Scientific Commemorative Symposium and Patient Summit in Lusaka under the theme, “Closing the Survival Gap – Equity in Sickle Cell Care.” He said sickle cell disease can be effectively managed through early diagnosis, continuous care, and proven treatments, but many patients still die prematurely due to gaps in service delivery and inconsistent access, especially in rural areas. Dr Choonga said Zambia continues to face a clear survival gap, where children born in well-served urban areas have better chances...
Post a Comment
Read more

Eligibility fight Still Alive

Image
Consortium says key constitutional questions remain unresolved despite court dismissals and vows to pursue further legal action ahead of the 2026 polls. By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia24, -- (June 18, 2026) — The Consortium of Civil Society Organisations for Good Governance and Constitutionalism says it will continue pursuing judicial interpretation of constitutional provisions governing candidate eligibility ahead of Zambia’s 2026 General Election. The announcement comes a day after the Constitutional Court dismissed a petition challenging the eligibility of Socialist Party presidential candidate Dr. Fred M’membe and his running mate Dolika Banda. Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka, Consortium Chairperson Isaac Mwanza said the court's decision to dispose of the matter on technical grounds left important constitutional questions unresolved. “The issues we raised were not political but constitutional,” Mr Mwanza said, adding that the organisation remains committed to...
Post a Comment
Read more

UNZA Academic Crisis Deepens

Image
Lecturers’ union passes vote of no confidence in Vice-Chancellor, Senate, Management and Council over exam disruptions and governance failures By Francis Maingaila  Lusaka, Zambia24 --- (18-06-2026) -- The University Of Zambia Lecturers And Researchers’ Union (UNZALARU) has passed a vote of no confidence in the Vice-Chancellor, University Management, Senate, and the University Council over what it describes as failures in managing the 2025/2026 academic calendar, particularly the mid-year examinations and Term II sessional dates. UNZALARU President Prof. Andrew Phiri and General Secretary Mr. Dominic Liche told Zambia24 that the decision follows repeated disruptions, conflicting communications, and the indefinite postponement of examinations, which have created uncertainty for both students and staff. The union said it had earlier warned against rushed changes linked to water and sanitation rehabilitation works and called for a stable academic calendar. However, it says these warnings ...
Post a Comment
Read more