Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya has expressed deep concerns that cholera remains a major public health problem that the country has grappled with for years.
Dr. Chilufya however, states that President Edgar Lungu has massively invested in public health security systems and is determined to eliminate cholera by 2025.
The Minister says this is the reason Oral Cholera Vaccine campaigns have been adopted as one of the pillars in the Zambia Multi-sectoral Elimination Plan as an effective tool for cholera prevention and control.
The Minister further adds that Zambia’s Multi- sectoral Elimination Plan outlines a strong commitment to ensure 85% of the population living in the hotspots is vaccinated with two doses of the OCV.
Dr Chilufya has further emphasised on the need to focus on social determinants such as good hygiene and access to safe and clean water among others despite cholera being a treatable and preventable disease.
ZANIS reports that Dr Chilufya was speaking in Shibuyunji district today, at the national launch of the Oral Cholera Vaccination, targeting more than 5,000 people older than 12 months in 11 cholera hotspot districts in 2020 and 2021.
“In line with the cholera elimination plan, it gives me great pleasure to be here today to launch the 2020 OCV campaign under the theme “Ending Cholera, Delivering Hope”. This campaign comes at a very opportune time and will provide preemptive protection against future outbreaks, “he said.
Dr Chilufya noted that he is delighted that the OCV campaign is targeting the capture of 70,000 people of Shibuyunji district as it houses one of the vulnerable citizens in fishing camps.
UNICEF Country Representative Noala Skinner, noted that the launch of the OCV campaign is yet another milestone for the Zambian government’s efforts to eliminate cholera.
Ms. Skinner said UNICEF remains fully committed to support efforts of eliminating cholera in Zambia.
And in a speech read on his behalf by his Representative, Shikanga Otipa, World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative, Nathan Bakyaita noted that the Zambian government has been in the forefront of giving global leadership in addressing cholera.
Dr. Bakyaita said WHO is thus delighted to support interventions to be implemented in cholera hotspot districts in the country throughout the cholera season.
Words words we are tired actions…u ar talking of the President what u doing as a minister
We implore the people to take good care of their surroundings and environment to reduce on the chances of the cholera outbreaks
Kikikikikiki… They can’t just say government has invested in the health sector..it always be President Lungu. This is why decision making is a challenge in Africa..there is too much of the individualistic narrative!
Sir you managed to beat a virus which the so called developed nations have failed lamentably to contain. So I have every faith that you can manage this small cholera. You are a hardworking man and we thank you
There is Cholera in Los Angeles?
Cholera is not a national problem. its a Lusaka problem. Poor sanitation around so many people.
When a person speaks like a fool, such a person can not be trusted. Gentamycin is still a public health problem because someone invested in homemade drugs from certain Asian countries.
Lets prevent cholera outbreaks together
Cholera remains national problem, and corruption…?
This is what we mean by accepting mediocre leadership based on slogans
…
That lungu was MP for chawama , he found people sh.iting in pit latrines next to wells , he goes to statehouse and still people are sh.iting in pit latrines untill today …..
Then some rat says hard working president ????
That’s the difference between the developed world and begger countries like Zambia , that fact of leaving people still using pit latrines would have not allowed lungu to be president….
This is what we mean by accepting mediocre leadership based on slogans
…
That lungu was MP for chawama , he found people using pit latrines next to wells , he goes to statehouse and still people are using pit latrines untill today …..
Then some rat says hard working president ????
That’s the difference between the developed world and begger countries like Zambia , that fact of leaving people still using pit latrines would have not allowed lungu to be president….
My dad who lives in Europe tells me he never experienced cholera in Zambia. He left in 1986
We trust you will deal with any outbreaks.. keep doing your best
Ads Amisi, corruption remains a PF full time preoccupation.
Nothing ever changes …I am sure this shameless thief of a Doctor wants donations!!
Cholera one simple avoidable diseases we need vaccine sure? It seems we have admitted we can never leave in clean surrounding. It seems zambia will collapse if we remove street vendors from the street and clean our surrounding
Vaccine is not the solution to cholera. It just means we will have the disease but it won’t make us sick.
The solution is a hygienic nation with clean piped drinking water, no pit latrines but drainage systems that work. All this is just what any working government does without being asked, without waiting for people to die. But do we read any political party manifestos that promise such?
No! All Zambian politicians are money hunting thieves who will never promise such things to the voters.