MP donates books to needy pupils
Monze DC warns departmental heads By NATION REPORTER MONZE District Commissioner Cyprian Hamanyanga has warned heads of Government departments and parastatals to start submitting weekly reports that would help the district prevent any outbreak of diseases such as cholera.
Speaking during the district epidemic preparedness committee meeting held in the council chamber yesterday, Mr. Hamanyanga expressed disappointment that out of more than 30 heads of government departments, parastatals and non-governmental organisations only five managed to submit reports.
He warned heads of government departments and parastatals in the district to take issues of epidemic preparedness seriously and submit reports as required to enable the district plan and sustain activities aimed at preventing disease outbreaks.
He has since summoned all heads of departments and parastatals to his office to exculpate themselves.
Mr. Hamanyang said it was imperative for everyone to get actively involved in epidemic preparedness, adding that failure to do so puts the district at a high risk of disease outbreaks.
Monze has not recorded any confirmed cholera outbreak since the disease broke out in Lusaka and some parts of the country including Namwala and Mazabuka in Southern Province.
"I want to warn all heads of government departments, parastatals and NGOs to take the district epidemic preparedness meeting seriously and submit reports that would help us to effectively plan and prevent any disease outbreaks such as cholera," said Mr. Hamanyanga.
Meanwhile, the district has since January this year recorded 356 cases of malaria, 37 sexually transmitted Infections (STIs), 18 cases of chicken pox, three suspected cases of cholera, 18 cases of dog bites,15 cases of suspected dysentery, and 4 cases of bilharzia.
Giving a report on the disease burden and activities conducted by Monze District Health office, Environmental Health Technologist Boyd Kasoka said one suspected case of cholera was reported at Monze Mission Hospital but that after treatment the patient was discharged.
He added that two more suspected cases of cholera were reported at Hankunkula Health centre where two people died after suffering from severe diarrhoea and vomiting.
Mr. Kasoka said two other people were admitted with the same complaints at the same health centre but that the results turned out negative for cholera adding that the cases were caused by acute enteritis, the inflammation of the small intestines commonly caused by food or drink contaminated with pathogenic microbes.
Mr. Kasoka also explained that 14 cases of dysentery were reported at Monze Correctional facility but that stools samples were collected and taken to Lusaka for bacteriological analysis.
On malaria cases that have continued to increase despite residual spraying that was conducted last year, Mr. Kasoka said some areas were not sprayed hence the increase in malaria cases.
However, he said the district health office would soon embark on another exercise to ensure that all areas or houses are adequately sprayed to reduce malaria cases in the district.
And Monze District Council says six street vendors have been taken to court for contravening the Local Government Statutory Instrument N0. 10 of 2018 on street vending and public nuisance regulations.
Monze District Council chief health inspector Muchoka Muchoka said the local authority also face challenges in garbage collection due to lack of refuse trucks to implement garbage collection.