UNILUS students join cholera fight

By MUKOSELA KASALWE

OVER 25 University of Lusaka (UNILUS) public health students have joined efforts with Kalingalinga health centre in the prevention of cholera in Lusaka’s Kalingalinga compound.

UNILUS students were last week received by two medical personnel from Kalingalinga health centre where 1,500 bottles of chlorine were distributed within the compound.

Students who were joined by also participated in the collection of waste to help in the prevention of cholera.

Public Health student, Harrison Kaitano said it was unfortunate that a preventable disease like cholera had claimed more than 70 deaths within a short duration because of ignoring basic hygienic demands.

Mr Kaitano said encouraging practices such as washing hands with medicated soap after using the toilet and before handling food, maintaining a clean environment, boiling or chlorination of drinking water as well as avoiding buying food from street vendors could help mitigate the epidemic and save lives.

“Cholera is a preventable disease that can be prevented by high standards of hygiene and sanitation,” he said.

He said there was need for more sensitisation and awareness of the community on good hygiene practices.

Mr Kaitano said the community should ensure they pay the Lusaka City Council (LCC) for garbage collection and the forming of community groups to collect waste materials and maintain a clean environment.

Cholera is an infectious disease that causes severe watery diarrhoea which can lead to dehydration and even death if left untreated. It is caused by eating or drinking water that is contaminated with a bacterium called vibrio cholera.