State acts to stem cholera epidemic

PUBLIC gatherings of more than five people have been banned in all cholera affected areas.

The Ministry of Health has invoked provisions of Public Health Act Cap 295 of the laws of Zambia and has, among other things, banned gatherings of more than five people, including funerals and public gatherings in all cholera affected areas to curtail its spread.

Speaking during a full council meeting in Lusaka yesterday, Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya said the government arrived at the decision so as to minimise new cholera cases because the number of cases had continued to soar, reaching as high as 1, 462 since the pandemic broke out. Dr Chitalu said the invocation of the Act would also provide more powers to key players in the sector that will compel people to stop selling ready-to-eat food in un-sanitised environments along the streets to protect both the customers and the traders. He said for the ministry to contain the disease, there was need to address key drivers such as consumption of contaminated water and food.

Dr Chitalu said poor hygiene practices and lack of drainages in cholera infested areas were a major challenge to the epidemic.

He said it was urgent for Government to provide clean and fresh water in all the affected areas as well as increasing the collection of waste. Dr Chitalu said the most effective intervention was to ensure that pit latrines were buried immediately they were full and to decontaminate them. He pointed out the presence of shallow wells in some compounds around Lusaka such as Kanyama which had more than 2, 000 and Chipata which had an estimated 500 was a major challenge as such facilities contained faecal matter in which the cholera virus dwelt. Dr Chilufya said 100 water points had been created and 35 water pipe have been replaced and human resource has been mobilised to strengthen the capacity of the Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSC). He appealed to all councillors in Lusaka to ensure that they work together and provide leadership as the ministry will embark on community level intervention. “Your worship the mayor, it has become urgent that we invoke the provision of the Public Health Act to have enhanced powers and address matters that are fueling this pandemic. So far 37 deaths have been recorded since the outbreak and the ministry has since placed consultants, paramedic, nurses and doctors in affected areas,” said Dr Chilufya.