Sun, 04 Feb 2018 11:56:42 +0000
By CHIKUMBI KATEBE
GOVERNMENT has announced phase two of the oral cholera vaccination exercise which begins on Monday in Kanyama and Chawama respectively.
Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya said the vaccination starts tomorrow, Monday 5th February, 2018 and urged all children and other citizens should go for the next dose.
He said the process was ongoing in the two areas to provide the second dose before the exercise rolls out to other areas across Lusaka.
He said citizens should not relax interventions such as maintaining high levels of hygiene in homes and public places during and after the cholera epidemic.
“All the children, all the citizens of Kanyama and Chawama should report to the designated cholera vaccination points tomorrow.
He said with over 1.3 million people successfully vaccinated in the first round, Government was still putting in place administrative logistics to meet similar targets in the second round.
And Government has commended media participation in disseminating the various interventions prescribed in the prevention of further spread of cholera in the country.
Dr Chilufya said although the Government has eased restrictions of public gatherings, the Statutory Instrument No 79 was still in effect and that citizens must maintain preventive interventions to avoid new infections.
“We would like to appeal to all our citizens not to relax but ensure that we continue observing utmost levels of hygiene and ensuring that we wash our hands, avoid buying food from the street and continue eating food that is cooked and well prepared. Also chlorinate and boil water.
“Yes we have eased restrictions but SI 79 is still in effect and we shall continue inspection of eating places and other public places,” he said.
He commended public participation as well as the corporate world for their various levels of interventions in the communities and work places. And Dr Chilufya has announced that Angola’s Minister of Health was scheduled to arrive in the country to tap into Zambia’s success story in dealing with the current cholera outbreak.
