A
shortage of baby food products has hit Mansa district in Luapula Province for
the second time leaving several babies whose mothers can not breast feed for
various medical reasons on the verge of starvation.
The
shortage of baby products comes after a team of Health workers from the
Ministry of Health in Mansa directed Shoprite management to remove the baby
products from their shelves.
However,
Government rescinded its decision and considered complaints raised by the
people in Luapula Province hence suspending the exercise.
Today,
Shoprite received fresh directives from Health officials to remove all baby
products from the shelves as the Ministry of health was yet to call a
stakeholders meeting to discuss the issue.
A Check
by ZANIS this morning found Shoprite workers removing the baby products from
the shelves.
In a
telephone interview with ZANIS, Shoprite Zambia Deputy General Manager Charles
Bota expressed disappointment at the move by Health officials accusing them of
discriminating against his shop when other outlets were equally still selling
the products.
Mr.Bota
said it was saddening that such an action could be taken even when it was
mentioned in Parliament that the chain store be given time to sell the
products.
When
contacted, District Environmental Health Technologist Davies Silwamba declined
to comment and referred all queries to the Provincial Medical Officer who was
reportedly out of the province.
Two weeks
ago, a team of Ministry of Health officials in the district swung into
action and confiscated several baby food products from Shoprite Mansa in a bid
to promote breastfeeding in the country.
ZANIS
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