Medical personnel, volunteers set to combat cholera
MORE than 200 volunteers and health workers have been deployed in cholera affected areas, Health Minister Dr Chitalu Chilufya announced in Lusaka yesterday.
The minister also said Lusaka’s Garden, Chipata, Kanyama, and Chawama Townships have been identified as being cholera affected areas in accordance with the Public Health Act.
“The market commonly known as BH Market located behind Soweto Market has been closed after samples of food were found to be contaminated,” Dr Chilufya said. He said a security guard and a trader both of BH Market had died of cholera following tests carried out.
“To facilitate implementation of the enhanced approach, Government has this afternoon issued Statutory Instrument No.79 of 2017. The SI mandates the following: order the cleaning or closure of public premises or burial of any contaminated water body where the officer determines that public premises do not have sufficient sanitation and hygiene,” he said.
Dr Chilufya who signed the SI with his Local Government counterpart Vincent Mwale as well as Water and Sanitation Permanent Secretary Edward Chomba said the SI would mandate any authorised officer appointed by the Minister of Health to inspect Public premises to ensure sufficient sanitation and hygiene to prevent the occurrence of cholera.