Diarrhoea outbreak in Choma district persist

THE outbreak of diarrhoea in Choma district has persevered and the health authorities have called for firm observance of hygienic standards among communities.

The hardest hit townships are the densely populated areas like Mwapona, Chandamali, Macha Road, Kabanana, Riverside, and Town Centre.

Choma, as of last month, had recorded a total of 944 diarrhoea cases and 115 dysentery cases from various health facilities.

Principal environmental health officer Likando Mukelabai attributed the rising cases of diarrhoea to indiscriminate disposal of waste and poor hygienic standards among residents.

Speaking on Thursday when he presented a report from the medical office during a District Epidemic Preparedness Committee (DEPC) meeting, Mr Mukelabai said, the current diarrhoea cases stood at 850 from 944 last month.

“The district still has diarrhoea in some homes, and the rising cases could also be attributed to piles of uncollected waste around many townships,” he said.

He also attributed outbreak of the waterborne disease to drinking of contaminated water by residents in some townships.

He said the district medical office was giving chlorine free of charge from various health facilities in which residents could collect to add in drinking water.

DEPC chairperson Vincent Sikanyeela feared for the worst outbreak of diarrhoea and dysentery if no stringent measures were put in place to control usage of contaminated water.

Mr Sikanyeela, who is also district administrative officer, alleged that the water being provided by Southern Water and Sewerage Company (SWASCO) in selected townships like Mochipapa was contaminated with particles.

SWASCO managing director Charles Shindaile was however, unreachable and no other official from the water utility firm attended the DEPC meeting.

But Mr Mukelabai said the health authority has reached complaints of contaminated water and was in the process of collecting water samples from townships for examination in Lusaka.