Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Zambia Statistics Agency (ZAMSTATS) has disclosed that the 2021 statistics survey revealed that 40 percent of the Zambian population was not willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to due to lack of information on the vaccines.
Speaking during the commemoration of the 2021 African Statistics Day in Lusaka today, ZAMSTATS Interim Statistician Mulenga Musepa says only 40% of the population was willing to be vaccinated.
Mr Musepa says some of the reasons why people shunned vaccination were that they did not trust the vaccines while others feared the side effects.
And Mr Musepa says there is need for government to improve statistics delivery in the country.
He stresses the need to turn the trajectory to produce statistics that will enable the private sector to make the right decisions.
Mr Mulenga adds that there is need to produce the statistics calendar that will indicate all the official statistics produced in a particular year.
And Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane has urged ZAMSTATS to evolve in order to remain responsive to the country’s data needs.
In a speech read on his behalf by Permanent Secretary Trevor Kaunda, Dr Musokotwane says government is committed to support ZAMSTATS to continue contributing to the development of the country.
He notes that it’s easy for the public to play a vital role in the development of the country base on factual data.
Representing the UN system, UNECA Sub regional office, Southern Africa, Director Isatou Gaye says the UN system stands ready to support the country to plan for the better future to deliver the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.