Gabriel Pollen, PhD.

Cogitation.

Working on a weekend, like usual …

LAUNCH OF EARLY MAIZE HARVEST

On 19th March 2024, His Excellency, the Presidentof the Republic of Zambia, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, launched the harvest of early maize, in Mkushi District, Central Province, amid the prevailing drought, and subsequent declaration of the drought as a disaster. The early maize initiative is part of government’s proactive and innovative approach to guarantee food security. For this particular harvest, about 150,000MT is expected from highly productive fields, which boast of 10-12MT per hectare.

1. What is Cholera?

Cholera is a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, resulting in rapid dehydration and draining of electrolytes. The rapid loss of fluids can be life-threatening if not treated promptly. Oral rehydration therapy is a key component of cholera treatment to replace lost fluids and electrolytes.

2. How is Cholera transmitted?

Cholera is often transmitted through contaminated water or food, and it can spread rapidly in areas with poor sanitation and hygiene.

3. How can Cholera be controlled?

Vaccination and improvements in sanitation and hygiene are the key ways to control the outbreak and further spread of cholera.

4. What is government doing to avert the outbreak of Cholera in Zambia?

Whole-of-Government approach is being deployed, relying on the complementary capacities of different agencies and ministries government, the key ones being the Ministries of Health; Water Development and Sanitation; Local Government and Rural Development; Defence; Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development; Green Economy and Environment, being coordinated by the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit in the Office of the Vice President.

Since the first reported case for the current outbreak in October 2023, to avert the outbreak of Cholera, the government is currently providing clean drinking water in the cholera hot spot areas. Almost 300 water tanks with 10,000ltrs capacity are being installed in strategic areas. In addition, solid waste management, involving the clearing of drains and dump sites, is being done. The Government has also embarked on emptying 20,000 pit latrines as well as super chlorinating and/or burying shallow wells.

Communities are being called upon to take seriously personal hygiene, to boil or chlorinate their drinking water and cook their food thoroughly, while also sanitizing their environments. The government is supporting this exercise by providing granular and liquid chlorine in targeted areas.

As part of surveillance, the government is also conducting inspections of trading and food premises as well as certification of food while distribution of chlorine and disinfection of households where cases are coming from is on-going.

5. What else is government doing in the area of Cholera case management?

The government has procured recommended supplies and equipment for the Cholera Treatment Centres in Lusaka and other districts that are reporting confirmed cases of cholera. Some of the supplies and equipment procured include cholera beds, Laboratory reagents and consumables for cholera confirmation and genomic sequencing, as well as food for cholera patients admitted in treatment centres.

6. How is government handling Risk Communication and Community Engagements regarding the outbreak of Cholera?

Dissemination of cholera alert messages via bulk SMSs is being done on all networks. The Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit working with the Ministry of Health and the local authorities are sending cholera messages direct to the mobile phones of people in the affected communities. Mobile announcers and Community Based Volunteers (CBVs) are currently in the communities in Lusaka to sensitize the public on the need to prevent cholera in their neighborhoods. This is in addition to the cholera adverts that are being aired on both radio and television stations. The government is also procuring additional equipment and printing more Information, Education and Communication material to enhance community sensitization.