The study dubbed “Economic Effects of the 2017/2018 Cholera outbreak on Businesses in Lusaka District” revealed that this resulted in total revenue losses of about K76.5 million for Businesses in six sampled markets namely Kanyama, Chawama, Chipata, Matero, Mtendere and Chilenje.
The loss in revenue was due to inability to trade as Businesses were closed for an average of 22 days while other factors included reduced trading hours due to curfews, loss of customers, loss of capital and loss of business due to change in trading locations.
According to the study, this revenue loss is an underestimation as it does not capture revenue loss in other main business areas such as the Central Business District, Kamwala Trading area and COMESA.
And 79 percent of businesses interviewed indicated that there was poor planning on the part of government as the Council and Government did not take any measures to prepare business owners, epicenters and the nation for the outbreak while in a few places where it was done measures were not adequate.
The lack of cholera outbreak prevention and preparedness led to government implementing extreme mitigation measures such as banning of planning, imposition of curfew, demolition of structures and adhoc closure of businesses, according to the report.
The report has since recommended that government should develop an effective epidemic prevention, preparedness and response system and a clear annual framework that outlines activities being conducted for cholera outbreak prevention and preparedness.
The 2017/2018 cholera outbreak was declared by the Ministry of Health on 6th October 2017 and as of 25th March 2018, cumulative cholera cases had reached 5, 190 with 103 deaths countrywide.
Lusaka accounted for 4, 749 of the cases and 88 deaths.
Mr. Cholera cannot win a Presidential election. We must quantify that.
Amos Chanda announced that State House hired and paid 2 Israelites who hard “state-of-art infra-red razor beam” which could scan and kill cholera thing. How much they pay them?
Can a study also be done on how much 300,000 families lost by the Ministry of Health imposing an extended fish ban?
This national scandal that cost fishermen millions of Kwacha saved how many lives? None!
Add to that the losses of shutting down the whole country for a day just because of mayoral elections in Lusaka as well as loss of business for this irrelevant day of prayer.