Monday, 13th February 2023
NEW YORK – Community Development and Social Services Minister Hon Doreen Mwamba, MP has held a bilateral meeting with Hon Minister of Social Affairs and Health of Finland, Ms Hanna Siekkinen.
During the meeting held on the margins of the 61st Session of the Commission for Social Development at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the two ministers acknowledged the longstanding bilateral relations that exist between Zambia and Finland based on mutual values and shared interests.
Hon Mwamba expressed hope and confidence that these relations will continue to be strengthened through increased interaction and cooperation between the two countries for the mutual benefit of the two peoples.
The Hon Minister said Zambia stands ready to learn from Finland’s expertise in addressing challenges of Climate Change and promotion of gender equality and the economic empowerment of women and girls given the positive strides made by Finland in these areas.
Hon Mwamba and her counterpart further exchanged views on social protection system such as the Social Cash Transfer programme, one of the major social protection interventions being implemented by the Zambian Government with the aim of supplementing household income among the most vulnerable and incapacitated households.
The Hon Minister therefore informed her counterpart that the programme currently has a total of 1, 027,000 beneficiary households representing 69% of the extreme poor in all 116 Districts of the country with the transfer values of K800.00 and K400.00 bi-monthly, for households with and without persons with disabilities respectively.
Hon Mwamba added that Government was further implementing other social protection programmes responsive to Climate Change induced shocks such as droughts, flash floods and extreme temperatures.
And Minister Siekkinen urged the Zambian Government to invest in young people, particularly that Zambia has a young population.
She noted that supporting the participation of women in decision making position including the Public Service was essential for the attainment of socio-economic development.
Ms Seikkinen further noted with concern the alarming levels of mental health issues in her country and called for increased discussions on mental health at international platforms.
Issued by:
Namatama Njekwa
First Secretary for Press and Public Relations
Permanent Mission of Zambia to the United Nations