By PRINCE MABUMBA
BRITAIN has provided K7 million support towards the response to floods that have hit some parts of the country.
British High Commissioner to Zambia, Nicholas Woolley expressed happiness that the United Kingdom had continued to provide technical advice, support and finance to Zambia.
“This includes an additional K7 million for flood response to support affected communities, which we announce this week,” Mr Woolley said.
He was speaking during the launch of the one health strategic plan for the period 2022 to 2026 by the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) on Tuesday.
Mr Woolley commended Government for its efforts in tackling the consequences of the floods and associated health risks.
He said the launch of the one health strategic plan was timely given the current cholera outbreaks in eastern and northern Zambia, with changes in the environment from heavy rains and flooding driving infection and transmission.
Mr Woolley expressed concern that this was creating challenges in timely access to care and treatment.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Technical Services Lackson Kasonka said the strategic plan was aimed at preventing, predicting and protecting zoonotic as they pose a huge risk to public health.
“The one health strategic, Zambia will now focus on operationalization of the One Health platform to enrich the one health approach in attaining public health security.
“In today’s highly connected world, a disease can be transmitted from an isolated area to any major city in as little as 24 hours. Zoonosis diseases that move between animals and people and other health threats between human-animal ecosystem interfaces pose ongoing and increasing risks to public health and global health security,” Dr Kasonka said.
