MINISTER of Health Elijah Muchima says Zambia currently has zero Cholera admissions as the 17 patients who were being treated for the disease in Nakonde have all been discharged.
The Minister has also revealed that the Country has not recorded any Cholera case in the last four days and further expressed happiness that the government has managed to contain the disease.
Dr Muchima said this when he handed over cleaning materials and Personal Protective Equipment to a group of women from 12 markets around the City, calling themselves ‘Busaka Mumamalikechi Namuma Station’ in Lusaka.
The donated items include 200 wheelbarrows, 400 shovels, 1,100 work suits, 3000 heavy duty gloves, a tank, 5000 face masks as well as 800 bottles of liquid hand-wash soap, among others.
ZANIS reports that the women have set aside two days every month to close the 12 markets in Lusaka for cleaning.
Dr Muchima has since commended the group for the initiative and pledged to partner with the Ministry of Local government and Rural Development as well as other stakeholders to support them.
He has further appealed to other traders in other parts of the Country to emulate the initiative by the women.
“I want you to be ambassadors of hygiene, working with my Ministry. You’ll be the community workers of hygiene to prevent diseases like Cholera,” he said.
Meanwhile, the women group has commended government for abolishing Kalunga and Steel market which was built over a drainage along Lumumba road.
Chairperson for the group, Mirriam Masando, has stated that the move should not be politicised as it is meant to safeguard the livelihoods of both the traders and consumers.
She expressed disappointment that traders at the market were using portable toilets which were allegedly discharging feacal affluence into the drainage, thereby risking the outbreak of waterborne diseases such as Cholera.
“We want to congratulate the Minister for directing the removal of Kalunga and Steel. We should not look at political mileage, money or anything. Health comes first!” she stressed.
