The Department of Health in Lavushimanda district of Muchinga Province has set up an emergency ward at Mpumba mini-hospital for cholera treatment in case of an outbreak.

District Health Director Rodrigue Kamunga said logistics are in place in all the 12 health facilities of the district in case of a cholera outbreak.

However, Dr Kamunga mentioned that only Mpumba Mini-hospital has a separate emergency ward, which will be used as an isolation ward for any suspected cholera case.

He said the district health office has, in conjunction with officers from Lavushimanda Town Council, heightened surveillance and conducted inspections at some restaurants and eating places last week at Mununga Lay-by to ensure that owners exercise high levels of hygiene.

He explained that, despite not recording any cholera case this year, the district is on high alert because Lavushimanda is a transit district situated along the Great North Road.

He said this means that the district has an influx of people from different countries on a daily basis, who travel in and out of the country as well as those who travel to and from other districts.

“We have heightened surveillance and working with the council, we inspected some restaurants last week just here at Mununga Lay-by and advised them to ensure that they meet the health standards in terms of hygiene levels,” Dr Kamunga said.

Dr Kamunga further explained that the district health office uses a cholera case definition, which is a rice-like watery stool and vomiting and whoever presents with such symptoms will be admitted and treated accordingly for being a suspected cholera patient.

He disclosed that the district recorded one cholera case in November last year from a person who was travelling from Lusaka to Kasama and presented cholera symptoms and was treated at Mpumba Mini-Hospital.

The country has been experiencing cholera outbreaks since October 2023, with latest cases being from Chililabombwe and Nakonde districts, prompting the Government to procure cholera vaccines and heighten surveillance levels in hotspot areas.