Posts in category: Uncategorized

If you have ever taken a medicine, then you have benefited from research in animals. But ten years ago, if you looked at a scientific report involving mice or rats, it would probably have used only male animals.

If you have access to it, it’s easy to take today’s contraception for granted. But key discoveries over the last century or so changed the lives of women.

For patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) ineligible for platinum-based chemotherapy, first-line atezolizumab monotherapy is associated with improved overall survival compared to single-agent chemotherapy, according to a study published online Aug. 5 in The Lancet.

I recently read that thyroid issues affect women more often than men. Can you explain what the thyroid is and how it affects my body? Can I do anything to prevent having issues with my thyroid as I age?

Latino children residing in states with higher levels of systemic inequity have increased likelihood of experiencing mental health or chronic physical health conditions, according to a study published online Aug. 15 in Pediatrics.

Millions of Americans are addicted to drugs or alcohol, and millions more struggle with an addicted family member or friend, a new poll finds.

THE uncertainty that has been created over the future of the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) is not good for the agricultural sector.

The situation has not been helped by the many conflicting statements that have been issued by government leaders.

Farmers, particularly the vulnerable small-scale farmers who depend on FISP to ensure they remain food secure must be assured that they will continue to enjoy the facility.

Thus, we agree with Mr Yotam Mayachalo, the Chama North Member of Parliament when he says the uncoordinated or conflicting statements from government ministers on the continuity of FISP) is confusing not only Members of Parliament but the public. 

Mr Mtayachalo says he is concerned with the number of contradictory statements from government leaders over the future of FISP and that MPs as representatives of the people were getting confused on correct information to give to citizens in their constituencies.

We too are baffled over the status of FISP as Government is yet to clarify its position over the contradictory statements over its status.

Last week. Commerce, Trade and Industry, Minister Chipoka Mulenga described as misinformation, the announcement that Government will slowly phase out FISP and replace it with a concessionary loan scheme for small-scale farmers.

Yet, on July 28, 2023 before parliament adjourned sine die, Agriculture Minister Reuben Mtolo Phiri informed the House that the country was slowly transitioning from FISP to a concessionary loan scheme for small-scale farmers.

“I would like to take this opportunity madam Speaker, that Zambia should know that this FISP is slowly going to erode, slowly going to be reduced, slowly going to be taken out. We are working towards giving cheap loans to farmers so that we can deal only with serious people. This release of free seed and free fertiliser to beneficiaries is not doing us any good,” Mr Phiri said.

But as Mr Mtayachalo noted, “Last year, the republican Vice President Mutale Nalumango told Parliament that Government shall not phase out FISP and assured the nation that the new dawn government was going to continue to offer vulnerable farmers subsided farming inputs.

The statement followed the concerns raised in Parliament after the government signed a bailout package agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).”

It is important, as Mr Mtayachalo said, for the chief government spokesperson, who is the Minister of Information and Media to give a clear and detailed government position of the new dawn administration over the future of FISP.

It is too important a programme to be left in a lurch, with key stakeholders lost.

Mr Mulenga, speaking on Hot FM radio said he did not hear Mr Phiri’s announcement that Government would slowly phase out FISP and replace it with a loan scheme for small-scale farmers.

“I did not hear my colleague (Mtolo Phiri) say this but if he said it, I need to sit with my colleague. 

“I report to a man called Hakainde Hichilema who is the President of the Republic of Zambia and to respond to what you have said, I need to ride on the statement that he (President Hichilema) issued. I don’t know on which points you are quoting the Minister of Agriculture but the President made it abundantly clear during the Agricultural and Commercial Show when he talked about FISP and the other concessional loan scheme that is coming,” Mr Mulenga said.

Where does FISP stand amidst all this?

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Shift work is associated with an increased risk for depression and anxiety, according to a study published online Aug. 14 in JAMA Network Open.

In a study published in the journal Genes & Diseases, researchers from Naval Medical University and Soochow University conducted an in-depth investigation into the genomic landscape of schistosomiasis-associated colorectal cancer (SA-CRC).

By MICHAEL MIYOBA

THE national futsal team has regrouped for a month-long camp to intensify preparations for the International championship slated for next month in Italy.

National Futsal team coach Andrea Cristoforetti has named a 15-member squad led by lethal striker Chota Chileshe who finished the 2023/24 FAZ Premier Futsal League as the top scorer.

Chileshe is joined by Jackson Simwami, Prince Lungu, Patrick Banda, James Mwila, Wiseman Phiri, Francis Chinyama, Michelo Kaampwe, Gift Chama, Boniface Ndhlovu. 

Others are Leevan Nyirenda, Timothy Mwamba, Jackson Chitungu and Evaristo Mulolo.                                           

The Zambia National Futsal squad is scheduled to compete at an international futsal championship slated for September 18 in the City of L’Aquila, in Central Italy.

Centro Sportivo Italiano (CSI) will host the international futsal event which will be held under the theme “Integration through Sports” and will run up to September 24.

“The team is doing good. We finished the first week of training and on Monday we regroup again. We have another four weeks to prepare for the tournament in Italy which is essential because when we come back from Italy, we will be having the first leg of the Africa Cup qualifiers between the 4th and 6th of October,” Cristoforetti said.

“So it becomes essential to organize the training and get the best shape for all the games and the fact that we will play a couple of games in Italy will be important for us to test our level and understanding where we need to improve,” Cristoforetti said.

With the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) having confirmed that the 2024 Africa Futsal Cup of Nations qualifiers will be played in December this year, the tournament in Italy will give Zambia the tough test needed to prepare adequately.

The 2024 Futsal Africa Cup which will act as qualifiers for the 2024 Futsal World Cup will be played between January 29 to February 11 in Mozambique.

The Qualifiers return on December 11 and will run up to December 20th 2023 and will be played on home and away basis. The draws will be conducted later this month.