YES, DECLARE NATIONAL DISASTER OVER CHOLERA
Dear Editor,
CALLS by some stakeholders to declare cholera a national disaster are welcome. This is in view of some people getting sick and others dying of cholera. Cholera broke out in Lusaka in last October.
People regardless of political affiliation and the civil society organisations have expressed concern at the high number of people who have continued to die of the waterborne disease.
These stakeholders feel that it is high time President Hakainde Hichilema declared cholera a national disaster.
Lusaka Province is the most affected with cholera. The National Heroes Stadium has since been declared a treatment centre. Other provinces have not been spared either from cholera.
The battle against cholera is a mammoth one and everyone should be fully involved in the fight. This calls for people to adhere to the preventive measures.
The preventive measures include washing of hands with soap after using the toilet, avoiding to eat cold and uncovered meals, not buying and eating foodstuffs from the streets and not drinking water from shallow wells among others.
However, cholera is real. It kills both old and young people within a short period after getting infected. This is because of dehydration which normally occurs in the cholera patient.
Sixteen people died of cholera and 494 people were infected as of last Friday. That said, it is evident that people will continue dying and getting infected as long as there is no adherence to the preventive measures advised by health workers.
Some companies like Trade Kings Group of Companies and Higer Buses, among others have joined the government in the fight against cholera through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Some companies have donated chlorine, cases of antibacterial soap, food and other logistical support. Indeed, this is a good gesture by the corporate world. It is the wish of everyone that more companies should come on board in the fight against cholera.
The government’s programme of administering the oral cholera vaccines to people mostly in the hotspot areas such as Kanyama and Matero is also welcome.