THE Pharmaceutical Society of Zambia (PSZ) has demanded for an apology from Health Minister Dr Chitalu Chilufya over his remarks that Zambians should avoid listening to lunatics who are discouraging them from using cloth face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.
And Society president, Jerome Kanyika, has insisted that cloth face masks have zero percent protection against COVID-19 unless people wearing them follow other guidelines that have been put in place like washing hands, social distancing, among others.
In an interview with Radio Phoenix News, Monday, Kanyika expressed concern that cloth face masks that people were making to protect themselves from COVID-19 had zero percent protection.
Kanyika argued that there was no scientific evidence to show that cloth face masks could prevent COVID-19 and that different research conducted indicated that the masks had zero percent protection against the virus.
But at a briefing on Monday, Dr Chilufya urged Zambians to avoid listening to lunatics who were discouraging them from using cloth face masks in the prevention of COVID-19.
“I want to use this opportunity to assure those of you who may have read toxic articles like an article from Pharmaceutical Society of Zambia about face masks. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t have glorified that comment with a response but due to the gravity of the situation, I will say, if you read a beautiful article done by the America Centre for Disease Control that talks about the efficacy of a mask made of cloth, then you will know that this is evidence based, it’s science based and just mask up and avoid listening to lunatics. Make sure that you use a cloth mask, and make sure that you use a mask which is surgical,” said Dr Chilufya.
But reacting to this in an interview, Kanyika demanded for an apology from the minister, saying the “lunatics” remarks were unacceptable coming from a leader.
“I’m also demanding for an apology from the minister for calling pharmacists lunatics when we just differ in terms of science belief. That’s unacceptable. We were not expecting such words to come from our leaders, like the minister. The minister is considered as a father of all the professions and he is supposed to show parenthood to everyone and bring them on board [in the fight against COVID-19],” he said.
Kanyika further insisted that cloth face masks had zero per cent protection against COVID-19 unless people wearing them followed other guidelines that had been put in place like washing hands, social distancing, and others.
“I’m still insisting that there is zero protection [for face cloth masks]. Unless other guidelines that are being put in place are followed. Putting on a face mask is going to create a false sense of security to an individual. As a result, he or she is going to become careless and stop observing the key basis guidelines of washing hands, social distancing and avoiding unnecessary essential travels. These are the basic rules that we are using in the fight against Covid-19 and this is what has been applied in all the countries. If people put on those [cloth] face masks and observe the other rules that are there, they can atleast be assured of protecting themselves,” he said.
“But we should very careful to not create a false sense of security to the members of the public and make them mingle, or be in other places and say ‘I have a cloth face mask, so I’m protected and cannot get the virus’. That will be very risky and we will have a lot of new cases as a result of the same.”
Kanyika observed that in other countries where people also wore masks, officials went further to inform the public that the masks would not protect them, but the next person.
“On April 6, this year, WHO issued a comprehensive statement or guidelines over the face masks. And one of the issue which was discussed was cloth face masks and other face masks that people are using. On the cloth face mask, the fact which we all know very well is that yes they have zero prevention against the virus. In other countries where there are these issues of calling for members of the public to wear face masks, they go further and tell them to say “these face masks will not protect you but will protect the next person”. But we are not telling our people that. And the studies are not yet conclusive,” said Kanyika.
“CDC (America Centre for Disease Control) made that decision (efficacy of a mask made of cloth) basically when they saw that they have shortages of face masks world wide and they wanted to preserve the limited face masks which were in the United States to the health workers. No wonder they had to loosen up in terms of the regulations for members of the public to put on the cloth face masks, while surgical face masks are kept for health workers who are on a daily basis dealing with COVID-19 patients.”
12 Responses
Your ignorance might have led to death. Ignorance is lunacy. You deserved the comment.
You are a huge medical body, why couldn’t you have done enough research on the matter, better yet, come up with solutions for the average Joe?… And you are here cry for an apology like children. You’re a childish leader, take a punch once in a while and don’t look for apologies, look for solutions.
Kanyika support your research not just repeating on zero %.make people see and critically analyze.
It appears PSZ’s concern is the loss of business in the sale of masks. Their argument does not make sense. Maintaining personal hygiene and social distance is necessary regardless of the type of mask one is using. Please be professional. Instead of asking for an apology from Dr. Chitalu, you must apologize for your unprofessional conduct and the embarrassment you are causing to PSZ.
Trump gave similar advice to the Americans and alot of people have died.
Just carry out a research and prove the minister wrong, and then ask for your apology.
What you’re basing your argument on, Mr Kanyika, is hearsay. You even insist that cloth has zero protection; listen to yourself. Zero? Surely, only a lunatic would say that.
You’re a lunatic, the Corona virus is very large and any form of mask can prevent it’s entry
In fact the minister was being diplomatic to have said lunatics but didn’t mention this foolish organization being led crooks and the criminally minded people the interest of this organization is to make profit at the expense of people’s lives because some members of PSZ owns pharmacies where they’re exploiting customers who has that money to buy a mask at K20 on a daily basis?the minister should NEVER be drawn into your foolishness
Wait a minute; Some masks are ment to be worn by the infected so they dont transmit to others. Some are intended to protect those who are NOT infected from the infected. Face masks when won by
the health workers are intnded to protect them against COVID-19 from potentially infected patients
One can be infected and ASYMPTOMATIC so they are NOT aware. Others may be infected and SYMPTOMATIC, so they would be aware or at least suspicious. But both the asymptomatic and symptomatic will test positive and will transmit the virus. The wisdom in all wearing face masks is that those who are infected and asyptomatic so NOT aware CAN NOT transmit to others unknowingly. SO, I dont understand the ZERO protection Mr. Kanyila is alluding to. Further more Mr Kanyika argues as if the Minister is saying “wear face masks, and forget physical distancing, hand washing hygiene and coughing and sneezing ETIQUET.
Mr. Kanyika Stop SEMANTICS, Minister Chilufya with due respect, as a leader be civic as you communicate on this MONSTOR, COVID-19. Both the pharmaciutical society of Zambia and the Minister of health have a common enemy- COVID-19. I beleive the two parties could have found each other if this were addressed behind closed doors. Imagine the confusion caused to the ordinary person like me!
I think Mr Kanyika is a bit confused, it doesn’t mean that when you put on the cloth mask you cannot wash your hands,We are putting on the cloth mask on the face and not on the hands.Even the Minister he was not saying that people should put on the mask and stop washing hands,
My humble request to Mr Kanyika: 1 Update your self with WHO imformation trends which is is not static as it is scientific, always adjusted as more knowledge from research and practice in different areas of the globe emerge. Unfirtunately Mr Kanyika is static. For a man with a health or nedical related qualification to bare his ignorance on COVID-19, is unbelievable 2. If your comment was personal , go back to the association and the people of Zambia and apologise.
If it is representative of your organisation view, subscribe to the WHO updates on. COVID-19 and stop peddling incorrect information. In some countries, peddling FAKE/ INCORRECT IMFORMATION ON COVID-19 has become a criminal offense under the COVID-19 Regulations. Thank your ancestors most people dont know who is RIGHT , YOU or the MINISTER!
We know that your interest as PSZ is commerce rather than the protection of the ordinary citizen on the street. Pharmacies and chemists have ridiculously increased prices of surgical masks, way beyond the ordinary citizen and you want to take away they only hope of avoiding the virus?
I think President, Jerome Kanyika is ignorant. because in the statement he said “these face masks will not protect you but will protect the next person”. For me I feel using a mask is effective because we don’t know whether a person next to me is a COVID-19 Patient or not. However, masks will reduce the rate of spreading the disease.