LEAD POISONS KIDS

Sun, 17 Sep 2017 09:46:53 +0000

By KETRA KALUNGA

ABOUT 30,000 children aged between 3-7 years in Kabwe are to undergo a health examination to reduce the levels of lead poisoning in their blood, director of health Paul Mukuka has confirmed.

Mr Mukuka said the US$16 million project was aimed at children in critically polluted mining areas of Kabwe’s, Makululu, Bwacha and Katondo townships.

In an interview with the Daily Nation, Mr Mukuka said the project under the Zambia Mining and Environmental Remediation and Improvement Project (ZMERIP) was expected to take off early next year.

“The project to be implemented early next year is aimed at reducing high blood lead levels especially in children in critically polluted mining areas communities which include Makululu, Bwacha and Kotondo townships of Kabwe,” said Mr Mukuka

Mr Mukuka explained that the project was part of the US$66 million World Bank-funded venture  aimed at reducing environmental health risks in critically populated mining areas of Kabwe, Kitwe, Chingola and Mufulira.

Mr Mukuka said that once the project was implemented, the Kabwe Municipal Council would engage a specialiSed team that would be going round to sensitiSe the people on the need to have their blood lead levels checked at various health facilities in the district.

Mr Mukuka also said those that would be found with lead in their blood, including children, would be given drugs to reduce the levels.

He said that a specialised team was already on the ground mapping the programme in Kabwe.

The council authorities of Kabwe, Kitwe, Mufulira and Chingola would implement the project in their respective areas aimed at reducing environmental health risks.