Posts in category: Uncategorized

Children and adolescents who have had multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) after exposure to COVID-19 are recommended to have follow-up heart function testing. A new study from Boston Children’s Hospital suggests they should also be monitored for long-term neurologic and psychosocial complications.

In a paper, “Epitope editing enables targeted immunotherapy of acute myeloid leukaemia,” published in Nature, researchers at the Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, introduce a genetic alteration to donor hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) that allows them to survive immunotherapy treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

The availability of rapid, accessible testing was integral to overcoming the worst surges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and will be necessary to keep up with emerging variants. However, these tests come with unfortunate costs.

THE Chibwela Mushi Cultural Association for the Lala and Swaka people of Central Province has implored Government to strengthen measures that would compel investors to plough back profits into local communities.

Chibwela Mushi Association’s national chairperson Benson Musonda made the appeal during the 2023 Chibwela Mushi ceremony at Chalata area in Mkushi.

Mr. Musonda said local communities would derive benefits from the investments in their respective areas if relevant laws are affected to compel business entities to undertake some Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) for the benefit of local communities.

He said there is a need for the government to consider strengthening the Land Tenure laws that would protect the local communities from being displaced or deprived of land ownership by investors developing land.

He pointed out that there is need for direct Government participation in the matter, adding that this would ease the fears of insecurity that are held in some communities in the District.

During the ceremony, Zanaco manager for Mkushi branch Felix Kangwa assured residents that the bank would continue assisting the Chibwela Mushi cultural Association with logistical support for the ceremony.

He said Zanaco has deemed it fit to implement financial literacy capacity building outreach programmes that are aimed to benefit residents in several communities of the district.

[/ihc-hide-content

By CHINTU MALAMBO 

CROP production is an important enterprise among small- holder farmers but yields have remained low because most farmers do not understand the dynamics of their soil.

Poor soil health, degraded soil and climate variabilities including unpredictable weather patterns are also contributing factors to the low productivity levels.

To this end, the Indaba Agriculture Research Institute -IAPRI with support from the Ministry of Agriculture and other partners like GIZ, the Food and Agricultural Organization-FAO, Solidaridad and the World Food Program among others has embarked on a soil awareness campaign, specifically for small-scale farmers, dubbed “Farmer know your soil”.

The campaign targets small-scale farmers in particular to know their soils before they select the type of crop to plant and the kind of fertilizer to use because of the adverse effects of climate change.

According to IAPRI Director of Research and Innovations, Anthony Chapota, good soil management practices improve soil health and fertility, leading to higher crop yields. Healthy soil is rich in nutrients, organic matter, and microorganisms, providing the ideal growing environment for crops.

Dr Chapota says the soil testing campaign will promote the use of latest technology, in soil testing at lowest cost and in a timely manner.it will also digitally deliver the best advisory solutions to each farmer based on the farm conditions.

Innovative Solutions for Decision Agriculture (iSDA) will provide technical support and digital tools  for soil care in real time soil testing in Zambia. The soil tests will be performed with a Soil Scanner.

The campaign which is being funded by the Swedish government  will be piloted in Monze district of Southern province and Kapiri Mposhi in Central province before it is rolled out the the other parts of the country. – NAIS.

[/ihc-hide-content

ZAMBIA’s Sixth President Edgar Lungu yesterday left for Zimbabwe to attend the inauguration of President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the invitation of the Zimbabwean government. 

Former President Lungu left for Zimbabwe aboard the Emirates around 16 hours yesterday and will return home soon after his scheduled programme is complete. 

The Zimbabwean government has invited former President Lungu to attend the inauguration of the country’s re-elected President, Emerson Mnangagwa today.

Also invited to witness the innauguration of President Mnangagwa is the Patriotic Front (PF), Zambia’s immediate past governing party.

Dr Mnangagwa who has been re-elected for his second term is today expected to be inaugurated and has invited former President Lungu.

In a letter to former President Lungu dated September 2, 2023, and signed by Charity Charamba President Mnangagwa said he was honoured to extend an invitation to former President Lungu  to  be among the many dignitaries to witness his inauguration.

And former President Lungu has expressed gratitude that he had been invited, stating that it was an honour for him to be part of the inauguration of President Mnangagwa.

“I am a former President and I have been invited in that capacity. Besides we got honorary PHDs at the same time. As you may know, as President, I enjoyed warm and cordial relations with President Mnangagwa”, former President Lungu said.

He was speaking when the PF delegation led by its vice-president President Given Lubinda paid a courtesy call on him at his hotel.

[/ihc-hide-content

By HAPPY MULOLANI

THE Zambia Climate Change Network (ZCCN) has handed over a climate change Communique to Government which speaks to a range of locally-led Adaptation learning interventions.

Speaking in Lusaka during a hand over ceremony, Ministry of Green Economy and Environment Permanent Secretary Douty Chibamba said government recognises the efforts the climate network is spearheading in tackling climate change affecting various communities in the country.

supporting local communities in the country.

Dr Chibamba called for increased collaboration on environmental adaptation  and  community involvement and giving them power to make decisions and harness indigenous knowledge in the fight against climate change.

Dr Chibamba emphasized that Government has provided a policy framework to deal with climate change. 

And CARE International Zambia Country Director Chikwe Mbweeda explains that CARE is supporting communities in coming up with nature based solutions as a away of encouraging alternative likelihoods.

Zambia Climate Change Network Acting National Coordinator Lydia Chibambo says that the communique arises from a learning workshop which develops outcomes focused on locally led adaptation measures aimed at tackling climate change.-NAIS.

[/ihc-hide-content

THE massively popular SHAKA ILEMBE will be back! MultiChoice today confirmed that the standout drama series, which has won fans and rave reviews in abundance, has been commissioned for a second season. With its rich visuals, excellent performances, respectful authenticity and outstanding entertainment, season 1 of SHAKA ILEMBE showcased the origins story of the legendary […]

Scientists from Queen Mary University of London have discovered two new genes that cause head and neck cancer patients to be resistant to chemotherapy, and that silencing either gene can make cancer cells previously unresponsive to chemotherapy subsequently respond to it.

By NATION REPORTER

THIRTY-FIVE people have died while 24 others are nursing serious wounds after their truck lost control and overturned on the Masansa-Luano road in Luano.

Central Province Minister Credo Nanjuwa said 35 people are reported to have died while 24 others are nursing wounds, following the accident involving a truck which was carrying traders who were travelling to a mobile market at Mboromo in Luano.

He said four of the survivors are in a critical state.

Mr Nanjuwa said there were 59 traders on the truck out of which 27 people died on the spot while eight died as they were being taken to the hospital.

He noted that the accident occurred around 08 hours yesterday.

Mr Nanjuwa said officers from the Zambia National Services (ZNS) have been sent to transport the bodies to Kabwe while the four who are in a critical condition will be transported to Kabwe Central Hospital.

He explained that some of the survivors are admitted to health facilities in Mkushi

And Luano District Commissioner Kells Meleki who visited the accident scene said in a telephone interview that traders from Kapiri Mposhi, Mkushi and the Copperbelt normally take merchandise to the valley areas of the district.

Mr Meleki said the traders usually carry their merchandise on trucks.

Provincial Health Director Abel Kabalo confirmed that health facilities in Mkushi and Luano districts received 35 brought dead.

[/ihc-hide-content