25/01/2024
Combating the Cholera Outbreak through Community Response
By Elias kazumba
Lusaka, Zambia24 (25-01-2024) - Urgent attention is required to address the ongoing cholera outbreak in our country. While treatment centers have made progress, it is crucial to focus on community involvement.
Minister of Health, Sylvia Masebo said there an urgent need for the people of Zambians to strictly adhering to cholera prevention measures.
"These measures include ensuring access to clean water for drinking and hygiene purposes, maintaining proper hand-washing practices, and using chlorinated or boiled drinking water," he said.
Masebo also stressed the need to seek immediate medical attention if any symptoms of cholera arise.
"By working together, we can overcome this outbreak and protect the health and well-being of our communities," she said.
According to Masebo, in the past 24 hours, there have been 426 new cholera cases recorded nationwide, which is a slight decrease from the previous day's count, according to Masebo.
"These cases are reported across 7 provinces, with Lusaka Province being the most affected, having 327 cases. However, the number of patients admitted to treatment centers has decreased," she said.
Unfortunately, Masebo explained, there has been an increase in deaths due to cholera in the last 24 hours, where 12 adults and 4 children lost their lives to this disease.
"It is important to note that Hero's Stadium cholera treatment center has not reported any deaths during this time," she explained.
She said efforts to protect the population through vaccination have been successful, according to Masebo.
In the past week, 1,745,004 individuals in hotspot areas have received cholera vaccinations. Additionally, 3,356 healthcare workers from areas such as Chawama, Chipata, and Kanyama, which have the highest number of vaccinated individuals, have been vaccinated.
Masebo expressed gratitude to donor agencies, particularly GAVI and the UN systems, for their invaluable support as we near the completion of the current vaccination campaign.
She also thanked the individuals who received the vaccines, the dedicated community volunteers, and the healthcare workers for their commitment.