Villagers in Chief Hanjalika of Mazabuka have called on Non Governmental Organisations championing the fight against HIV and AIDs to distribute female condoms to the area to protect women from contracting the pandemic.

The villagers revealed during an HIV sensitisation programmed held at Munjile storage shed organised by the Ministry of Information of Broadcasting Services (MIBS) through ZANIS that NGOs involved in HIV programmes were only distributing male condoms.

Loveness Mweemba complained that women remained vulnerable because they have never seen female condoms despite NGOs and government advising them not to engage in unprotective sex.

Ms Mweemba was also supported by Kebby Bwempya, who urged government not to exercise any biasness in the fight against HIV and AIDs.

” The only condoms we are familiar with are male ones while female condoms have never been distributed. How can women be protected if they are exposed to unfair treatment by government and NGOs?”

And village headmen have asked government to provide income generating activities to people living with HIV and AIDS if the death rate was to be reduced.

Headman Chinkuli said government should treat the appeal seriously if more people are to be enrolled on Anti Retro Viral (ARVs) drugs.

And United National Independence Party (UNIP) Councillor has commended the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services for embarking a video HIV and AIDS sensitization programme in Luangwa district.

Speaking at Manuchli village in Mankhokwe ward, councillor Leo Mpanda said the video HIV and AIDS sensitization programme will enhance the efforts of the Ministry of Health and those of Non Governmental Organizations who are disseminating HIV and AIDS information through literature materials.

Councillor Mpanda said the video shows were an effective way of disseminating information on issues such as HIV and AIDS as people are able to watch the pictures and listen to the messages.

He said Luangwa district was vulnerable to the HIV pandemic because of the fish and reed mat trading that is going on in the district, hence the importance of such programmes.

Councillor Mpanda appealed to government to continue with such progrmmes of sensitizing communities through ZANIS as the department has equipment for such programmes.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services, through the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) has embarked on video show sensitization on HIV and AIDS in thirty districts, including Luangwa, in its effort to enhance awareness on Antiretroviral therapy (ART) and the importance of Voluntary Couselling and Testing (VCT).

ZANIS/ENDS/MN/EML/EB

Government has disclosed that Lusaka has recorded 27 new cases of cholera as of yesterday.

Lusaka District Commissioner, Christah Kalulu, attributed the emergence of new cases to the continuous rainfall that has been experienced in the past few days .

She said the district has currently an accumulative figure of 102 cholera cases under treatment at the two treatment centers of Kanyama and Matero Referral Health centers.

Ms Kalulu who is also Lusaka District Disaster Management Committee Chairperson, said the uncharacteristic change in the rainfall patterns has impacted negatively on the sanitary conditions in most parts of the district especially those prone to the outbreak.

She was speaking after touring the water tanks that have been set up in Cholera affected areas that include Kanyama and Kuku areas.

She said government will continue with its interventions by providing clean was and distribution of free chlorine to residents in the affected areas.

She commended community and civil leaders for partnering with the DDMC in averting the further spread of the disease owing to the flood.

Ms. Kalulu reiterated the call for concerted efforts among stakeholders to completely eradicate the epidemic.

Earlier, Meicins San Frontiers, MSF, Emergency Coordinator, Llanos Ortiz appealed to residents to take precautionary measures such as proper disposal of waste and observing high hygienic standards so as to mitigate the further spread of cholera.

Government has since partnered with the private sector, medical charity (MSF) Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company and other key stakeholders in supplementing its efforts aimed at mitigating the effects of the cholera pandemic in Lusaka district.

ZANIS/JT/EML/MKM/ENDS

Two people died while four others suffered electric shocks after being electrocuted by a Zesco power cable in Lusaka’s Misisi Township at the weekend.

Police spokesperson, Bonny Kapeso, confirmed the incident in Lusaka yesterday and identified the deceased as Charles Phiri, aged 21, and a 25-year-old married woman.

Mr Kapeso said the two died on the spot after they came into contact with a 33 Kilovolts (Kv) Zesco power line that fell after it got cut due to heavy rain in Lusaka.

The other four, he said, suffered electric shocks and were rushed to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) for treatment.

“I can confirm that two people died on the spot over the weekend after they were electrocuted by a Zesco power line that got cut due to heavy rain. Four other people suffered electric shocks and were immediately rushed to UTH for treatment,” Mr Kapeso said.

The power cable, he said, fell on top of the roof of the deceased’s house while the four who suffered electric shocks were passing by.

Mr Kapeso said the condition of the four was critical.

Zesco senior manager for marketing and public relations, Monica Chisela, has said the company’s legal advisers were on the ground to ascertain the cause of the incident.

Mrs Chisela said Zesco officials were carrying out investigations in the incident and would issue a comprehensive report in the course of the week.

“Our legal officials are already on the ground and we shall issue a comprehensive report soon after they complete their investigations,” Ms Chisela said.
She regretted the deaths and electrocution of the four.
[Times of Zambia]