Govt releases K45m for cholera fight

GOVERNMENT has released K45 million contingency funds towards the fight against the cholera outbreak in Lusaka while Health minister Chitalu Chilufya has directed the Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company to speed up the erection of 50 water tanks in cholera hit areas.

The minister said this yesterday in Lusaka when he toured Garden compound to check on the Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSC) who are putting up water tanks in selected points.

Dr Chilufya however, directed the LWSC to ensure they worked round the clock and ensure the 50 water points were quickly completed so that cholera hit areas had adequate clean and fresh water following the burying of shallow wells.

He urged LWSC to increase their man power and see to it that they worked long hours which would see the 50 water points quickly completed in the wake of the cholera crisis.

“Government has released K 45 million contingency funds towards the cholera outbreak. I urge you LWSC to work round the clock because this is a crisis. The 50 water points need to be quickly completed in cholera hit areas,” Dr Chilufya said.

Speaking at the same function Minister of Local Government Vincent Mwale said Government would in the next four months introduce an Urbanisation Policy which would see the upgrade of shanty compounds.

Mr Mwale said the policy would ensure proper sanitation services of sewer and water put up as lack of the facilities was the cause of the cholera outbreak. The two ministers were accompanied by Health Permanent Secretary Dr Kennedy Malama, ministry of health and LWSC officials.