Support Local Publishers, NGOs Prodded

LUSAKA, May 27 - Government has challenged non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working with the Ministry of Health to support the local publishers by providing them materials.

Education Minister Andrew Mulenga said in a speech read on his behalf by principal education standards officer Alice Nzala that it was paramount for NGOs to assist publishers in Zambia.

He said this at this year's Zambia Book Fair event which was held at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre (MICC) in Lusaka yesterday.

The minister also stressed that the need for health education was vital though this would only succeed with quality and appropriate teaching and learning materials.

Mr Mulenga said he was happy to note that publishers in Zambia were now publishing materials that were related to health issues and that such were targeted at youths who were future leaders.

"We are living in an era when we have to grapple with various health problems, the significant one being malaria, cholera and the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

"These health problems posed a big challenge to Government in terms of prevention and treatment and are impacting negatively on the country's meagre financial resources," he said.

The minister said it was in that regard that NGOs particularly those working with the Ministry of Health needed to supplement Government efforts in sensitising Zambians.

Mr Mulenga also prodded the publishers to publish materials for the visually impaired people.

Book Publishers Association of Zambia (BPAZ) chairperson Christine Kasonde said the association would work towards improving the quality of its products to satisfy consumers.

Source: The Times of Zambia / allAfrica Global Media