HAND WASHING EXERCISE GOES TO PUBLIC BUSES

By KALOBWE BWALYA THE Commuters Association of Zambia is to introduce precautionary measures against cholera among commuters aimed at sensitising travellers on the importance of washing hands before embarking on public transport. Commuters Association of Zambia president, Aaron Kamuti, told with Daily Nation that the hand wash programme would soon be launched in Lusaka where some bus stations, Lumumba, Millennium and Kulima Tower, among others have since been targeted. Mr Kamuti said he would ensure that commuters took hygiene practice seriously to prevent the occurrence and further spread of cholera. He said the association wants to bring sanity in the transports sector, adding that everyone should take part in the hand wash exercise especially commuters, drivers and bus conductors. “This is a clear demonstration to passengers on how they should utilise the campaign by washing their hands and this should be routine,” said Mr Kamuti. Mr Kamuti said his organisation has since received some hand washing soap from the Ministry of Health to be used to demonstrate to the commuters in some selected bus stations in Lusaka. Meanwhile, Mr Kamuti appealed to Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) to make it a mandatory to all bus operators to provide litter bins in buses to avoid careless dumping of litter through windows by some passengers. Mr Kamuti said passengers should also take charge to ensure that operators provided waste bins in buses so that sanity continued on the road as well as in bus stations. “We should not wait until damage has been done, let us take cleanliness among ourselves by avoiding throwing litter anyhow. The programme will be rolled out in other provinces, therefore I am appealing to stakeholders to come on board as well in sensitising the public,” he said.