Cholera vaccinations kick off
CHOLERA vaccination has started today with over two million people targeted in the epi centres of Kanyama and Chipata compounds respectively, says Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya.
And 55 children have been admitted to the Heroes Stadium cholera treatment centre after they tested positive with vibrio cholera as at 08:00 hours yesterday.
Dr Chilufya said in response to the cholera outbreak that has ravaged the country for the last three months, Government commences vaccination of its citizens to be launched with concentration on Old Kanyama which has presented the highest number of infections and deaths so far.
He said the vaccination exercise scheduled to be launched in Kanyama today was expected to go on for at least 10 days while Government continued to implement other high impact interventions to help rid the capital of cholera.
“Our mapping does show that a number of cases continue to be concentrated in Old Kanyama and certain parts beyond Old Kanyama.
He said Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company was on the ground to put up 100 more water tanks in Kanyama to be sustained by water bowsers with clean water for domestic use.
“Only trading places with sanitation facilities and access to water will be certified to resume trading. And even when we resume trading, we will not allow careless waste disposal.
“Our health inspectors are on the ground inspecting markets, trading places, decontaminating them and ensuring that all the challenges in public health are rectified as we slowly re-open businesses,” Dr Chilufya said.
Government has meanwhile instructed all local authorities to take up the challenge from Lusaka and ensure they clean their central business districts but with special care and caution to food businesses to ensure they adhere to the Public Health Act in maintaining high standards to avoid diseases.
Dr Chilufya hailed the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) - Atlanta, World Health Organisations, Doctors’ without Borders, Child Fund and CHAZ for their technical support.
And Neria’s Investment Limited in collaboration with their sister company, Delta Energy has contributed K2 million towards the procurement of drugs and other medical supplies required for effective treatment of those admitted at the cholera treatment centre at Heroes Stadium.
According to Ministry of Health, they have recorded up to 2, 802 number of people affected from the outbreak in October, 2017 which included 114 new cases recorded within the last 24 hours in Lusaka alone.