Copperbelt Permanent Secretary, Villie Lombanya, has urged health officials to intensify surveillance measures against any possible outbreak of swine flu and other diseases in the province.
Speaking when he officiated at the provincial epidemic preparedness committee meeting in Ndola today, Mr. Lombanya said Zambia is prone to disease outbreaks such as malaria, cholera and even the current global threatening swine flue, hence the need for stakeholders to take the epidemic preparedness committee meetings serious.
He said government through the ministry of health attaches great importance to disease control through development of emergency epidemic control measures.
Mr Lombanya implored all government departments, civil society organisations, and the church to partner with government in efforts of enhancing the performance of the provincial epidemic preparedness.
Meanwhile, swine flu screening facilities have been placed at Ndola Internatioanl Airport in an effort to detect any possible swine flu cases among the traveling public.
Copperbelt provincial health office Clinical Care Specialist, Chungu Chama, disclosed in Ndola today during the provincial epidemic preparedness committee meeting.
Ms. Chama added that Masala clinic has also been identified as an official place for quarantining suspected swine flu patients in an event of any swine flu outbreak.
She added that a provincial Rapid Response Team has also been formed to handle and investigate suspected swine flu cases as well as the strengthening of all Copperbelt province ports of entry such as Kasumabalesa border in Chililabombwe and Ndola International Airport among other intervention measures.
And a Communicable Disease Control Specialist at the provincial health office Dr. Clara Nauluta confirmed that the country has some stocks of Amantadine and Lemantadine, the recommended swine flu treatment drugs.
Meanwhile, all districts on the Copperbelt have been directed to identify places that could be used for quarantining suspected swine flu patients.
Copperbelt Provincial Health Director Dr. Chandwa Ng’ambi gave the directive at the epidemic preparedness committtee meeting which was attended by all district health directors from the province.
Dr. Ng’ambi also called for the formation of district health task forces to coordinate Swine Flu detection, monitoring and prevention.
The provincial epidemic preparedness committee is a team of officers from the provincial health office and the district health offices and other stakeholders from the private sector.
ZANIS
Elo lwanya, theres is HIV/AIDs, TB and malaria already killing us, nomba ati na swine flu mwati twalapusuka. Ba Ministry of health muposeko amano kuli swine flu.
WHO have asked that we should desist from calling it ‘swine flu’. Instead call it ‘Influenza H1N1’. Now coming back to the topic, yes you have to intensify, pantu as nambala 1 has said, if it comes, lwanya! Nama kiss mwatemwa.
Swine Flu yashupa…In a related development Castro Chiluba natusha.The guy was only 33.just a year older than Christ at his death.
Mutushe muchibote if you can.
This flu has reached Zambia or is someone just being cautious?
#3 It is true that Castro Chiluba natusha, it is in most papers .