THE BATTLE TO STOP CHOLERA
…high levels of hygiene needed …keep surrounding clean ...stop littering
LEADING by example took on a whole new meaning yesterday when Health Minister Dr Chitalu Chilufya led other ministers and Members of Parliament in cleaning Lusaka’s Soweto market in a bid to fight the spread of Cholera.
Lusaka city has been ravaged by the cholera epidemic for more than a month and a situation that appeared to have abetted a week ago, now seems to have increased with designated centres handling more cases.
Government has taken measures to ensure that the spread is contained and for this to be successful will require the cooperation of the general public.
As a starting point, President Edgar Lungu has a task force of Cabinet ministers to deal with the outbreak of cholera decisively and limit its spread. These include Ministry of Defence, Local government and Housing, Water, Sanitation and Environmental Protection, Health and the Vice President’s office.
As the Health Minister, Dr Chilufya is heading the task force whose task is by no means simple. Not surprising that the minister has taken a practical approach as part of the means of combating the epidemic.
By 05:00 hrs yesterday, the minister and his colleagues from other ministries were at Soweto market shovelling dirt and unblocking drainages. It is a dirty job but someone has to do it and it just so happens that it is the ministers that are doing it.
What is cholera? According to a medical encyclopaedia, Cholera is an infectious disease that causes severe watery diarrhoea, which can lead to dehydration and even death if untreated. It is caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with a bacterium called Vibrio cholerae.
The disease is most common in places with poor sanitation, crowding, war, and famine.
Cholera Causes
Vibrio cholerae, the bacterium that causes cholera, is usually found in food or water contaminated by faeces from a person with the infection. Common sources include:
• Municipal water supplies
• Ice made from municipal water
• Foods and drinks sold by street vendors
• Vegetables grown with water containing human wastes
• Raw or undercooked fish and seafood caught in waters polluted with sewage
Understanding the causes of cholera can help the public understand how to fight the spread of the disease.
The outbreak of cholera in Lusaka was originally blamed on some shallow wells in Mazyopa compound where residents were using contaminated water for various everyday life activity such as drinking, cooking and washing.
It was also revealed by Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSC) that 80 percent of boreholes in Lusaka were had bad water because the common source, water bed, was contaminated.
In some cases, residents have been known to dig wells near graveyards, a situation that further puts the risk of contamination even higher. Worse still, are the wells that are located near pit latrines, thereby making contamination more than likely.
Some of the measures initiated to stop the spread of cholera including the following:
1. Stop trading of fresh foods in contaminated places because this would escalate the spread
2. Stop trading in ready to eat foods on the streets
3. Engaged vendors to understand why they may need to scale down trading in certain products in certain places
Lloyd Kaziya, Water, Sanitation and Environmental Protection minister says government through his ministry is determined to unblock drainages. It’s important that leaders demonstrate that there is nothing impossible when people are determined to contain the
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine by some strains of the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Symptoms may range from none, to mild, to severe. The classic symptom is large amounts of watery diarrhea that lasts a few days. Vomiting and muscle cramps may also occur.
situation.
He said his team from LWSC was ready to help in the exercise to ensure blocked drainages are unblocked no matter what it took.
Ensure that no stone is left unturned. All blocked drainages have to be unblocked so that there are no pools of stagnant dirt water or garbage anywhere.
Wanted to show the marketeers that cleanliness is important and that this is something that the traders can also do on their own.
The magnitude of the problem due to the cholera outbreak is huge and issue must be tackled now because rains could make things worse.
Zambians must change their behaviour and habits of littering. Mind set on keeping the nation clean should start at individual level. It is every Zambian’s responsibility to do their part to keep the country clean. Throwing rubbish, no matter how small, should be discouraged.
No one to blame for cholera outbreak if Zambians do not take responsibility and keep surroundings clean avoid litter.
The will of the President is to ensure that there is good health for all citizens and that is why he gave a directive to the minister to take charge.
Lusaka Minister, Japhen Makalombe also emphasised that government is committed to have clean drainage facilities in the city.
He also talked of a waste management that manages waste in a more professional manner. He said public health was vital and it was up to citizens and to work with government to ensure they maintain a clean environment.
He also noted that some drainages were shallow and therefore not effective.
Kanyama MP, Elizabeth Phiri took part in the cleaning as the market falls under her constituency. She maintained that Soweto market feeds the entire nation and even the international visitors. She is hopeful that a more permanent solution would be found next year with a new system of cleaning the market.
A new mind set is needed by all Zambians to heed the Health minister’s suggestion about maintaining clean surroundings whether at home, work place or trading area. Littering needs to come to an end. Every effort matters.
Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal disease that can kill within hours if left untreated. Researchers have estimated that each year there are 1.3 to 4.0 million cases of cholera, and 21 000 to 143 000 deaths worldwide due to cholera1. Most of those infected will have no or mild symptoms, and can be successfully treated with oral rehydration solution.