PAC to meet Chakwera on vaccines
The Public Affairs Committee (PAC) will today meet President Lazarus Chakwera at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre to discuss issues surrounding the Covid-19 vaccines.
In an interview yesterday, PAC executive director Robert Phiri confirmed the meeting, saying the President has granted the quasi-religious grouping an audience from 10am.
He said: “Although the PAC board is yet to adopt the agenda, discussions will be confined to Covid-19 vaccine issues.
“You may be aware that faith leaders are committed to assisting in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. In brief, this is what may be discussed tomorrow [today].”
Phiri said that during the meeting, the PAC delegation will be accompanied by United Nations (UN) resident coordinator Maria Jose Torres and a representative from the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef).
He said officials from the Malawi Interfaith Aids Association (Miaa) and Youth Wave, in their respective capacity as PAC’s networking partners, will also be at the meeting.
Phiri said that as part of efforts to assist in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, PAC has been undertaking messaging on Covid-19 both in print and electronic media with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), among other interventions.
He said PAC continues to work in such an area and by involving all stakeholders with the aim of helping to avert further spread of the pandemic.
In a separate WhatsApp response, presidential press secretary Brian Banda also confirmed the meeting, saying the President is ready to meet PAC.
“The President takes opportunity in these engagements to get input on how his administration is fairing and get counsel on how to move forward.
“Apart from PAC, the President also meets with leaders of various political parties and leaders from various sectors in society,” he said.
Last month, PAC also met various religious leaders in Lilongwe where they were encouraged to woo the public in going for the vaccination exercise to fight the pandemic.
During the meeting, which also involved health experts, PAC vice-chairperson Osman Karim said there is need for joint efforts to encourage people to get vaccinated and that faith leaders have a big role in the vaccination campaign.
According to a Covid-19 situation update signed by Minister of Health Khumbize Chiponda, as of yesterday, 364 691 doses have been administered since the launch of the vaccination on March 11 this year.
Meanwhile, both Chakwera and Vice- President Saulos Chilima received their second doses of the vaccine last week Friday in Lilongwe.
World Health Organisation recommends two doses of the vaccine to guarantee full protection.
