Cholera vaccines commence Wednesday

Mon, 08 Jan 2018 13:42:08 +0000

By CHIKUMBI KATEBE

VACCINATION against cholera commences on Wednesday following the arrival of two batches of serum to be first administered in the two worst hit areas of Kanyama and Chipata compound respectively.

And Lusaka’s Heroes Stadium has been turned into a full-fledged Emergency Cholera Treatment Centre with all medical equipment and supplies installed in response to the epidemic that has hit the capital city.

Mister of Health Dr Chitalu Chilufya announced yesterday that the vaccination against cholera should begin by Wednesday but was expected to be extended to other areas in order to protect the public from future infections.

“We have made a decision to start vaccinations on Wednesday and we are starting with Kanyama and Chipata where the epicenters are.

“We have received the first two batches of serum between yesterday and today and we are receiving more

Dr Chilufya also announced yesterday that patients were already being moved from the various treatment centres to Heroes Stadium for medical attention.

He revealed that both adults and children would now be treated at the new cholera treatment centre as there was enough room to accommodate all patients including male, female and children.

Meanwhile, Government has applauded response from church mother bodies who have postponed Saturday and Sunday gatherings as a preventative measure in reducing infection.

Dr Chilufya said as Government they remain indebted to religious leaders for the positive response in support of the move to reduce public gatherings when they canceled church services including all those who ensured strict precautions at such gatherings in areas not affected by cholera.

“We want to applaud the response from Church Mother Bodies.  We have seen pastoral letters from the Catholic Church, Seventh Day Adventist (SDA), Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) and other church organisations in postponing church gathering which has significantly contributed to disruption of the transmission cycle,” he said.

And Minister in the Office of the Vice President Silvia Chalikosa has assured members of the public that there was enough chlorine for public use, and that if there could have been a shortage, it should be as a result of sudden high demand at household level.

Ms Chalikosa said Trade Kings would soon start manufacturing chlorine for free distribution to the public in the fight against the current outbreak.