ZPRA urges more cholera awareness

Tue, 09 Jan 2018 11:25:44 +0000

By CHIKUMBI KATEBE

 THERE is need for increased dissemination of information pertaining to the cholera epidemic to avoid the situation escalating to catastrophic levels, Zambia Public Relations Association president Mwamba Siame has said.

Mr Siame said there was need for more sensitisation messages on the epidemic if the disease was to be brought under control.

Ms Siame appealed to the corporate world to ensure there was effective communication on cholera in the communities they operated from to promote the best health practices to prevent the further spread of the disease.

“All organisations have a duty to not only ensure that as corporate citizens they provide an environment that promotes health, but also help other agencies dealing with the cholera outbreak in most of our communities,” she said.

She explained that with the integrated multi-sectoral approach embarked on by the Government, there should be adequate communication especially on the preventative measures to be taken and the management tips, essential in dealing with the epidemic.

“ZAPRA therefore appeals to the public relations and communication practitioners to prioritise cholera prevention messages in their internal and external communication,” Ms Siame said.

And Public Health Association of Zambia (PHAZ) has called on the Ministry of Health to mount cholera exit points as a preventative measure to those travelling in and out of the capital city on all the major routes.