KALOMO district has recorded a total of 19 Coronavirus cases with a new case having been recorded on December, 28 2022.
District health director, Malungwe Kalaluka disclosed this during the epidemic preparedness stakeholders committee meeting. She said the cases have been recorded from Dimbwe, Masempela, Moonde, Kachele, and Chifusa and within the Township.
Dr Kalaluka explained that all the patients are in a stable condition and are under home based care stating that of the 19 who tested positive, six are health workers. Out of the 19 patients, 17 are fully vaccinated and one is not fully vaccinated while one is not vaccinated.
Doctor Kalaluka also informed the meeting that there is an out-break of measles in the Province with cases being recorded in Choma, Sinazongwe and Pemba districts and called on all stakeholders to be on high alert of the disease. She also adds that non- bloody diarrheal cases are on the rise in the district with children under Five years being the most affected.
She attributed the upswing of diarrheal cases to the inadequacy of clean, safe drinking water and low sanitation levels in most rural areas stating that sanitation levels stand at 60 percent.
“We have recorded 19 cases since the new wave was announced and there is need to sensitize the general public so that we continue raising awareness to increase our vaccination status and continue following the Covid 19 prevention golden rules,” Dr. Kalaluka disclosed.
Kalomo stands at 167, 979 eligible persons to be vaccinated against Covid 19 and only 153, 938 are fully vaccinated.
And Kalomo district commissioner Joshua Sikaduli observes that the district has had poor COVID 19 testing and vaccination levels especially in the rural areas. He says there is a need to heighten sensitisation campaigns especially in the rural areas.
Mr Sikaduli urged the media to disseminate information on the epidemic to the general public to allay misconceptions and myths surrounding the Covid 19 vaccination. He also advised the local authority to enhance health compliance in public places.
“We need to do more as a committee so that we can reach the 80 percent threshold and ultimately reach 100 percent vaccination adherence. We also need to work as a team to help eliminate measles and diarrhea outbreaks. Let us take advantage of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to have hand pumps and toilets put at public facilities,” Mr Sikaduli prods.
