Cholera Outbreak: How We Are Working With The Government -UNICEF

The United Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has stated how it is working with the concerned government to contain the outbreak of cholera in Zambia.

The Eagle reports that the cholera outbreak is taking a heavy toll on the government and people of the country, and the global agency says it is working hand in hand with the government to contain the menance.

Over five hundred lives have been lost and over 13,600 others affected by the cholera outbreak, which has also forced the government to place restrictions on the churches, to checkmate further spread.

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A release of the UNICEF accessed by The Eagle says the mission of the agency would be to alleviate both suffering and loss of lives from the cholera outbreak.

It is also to provide vital resources, healthcare services, and education to combat the crisis head-on, the agency said.

Thus far, the UNICEF says it has facilitated the delivery of 1,701,112 doses of Oral Cholera Vaccine (OCV) for the implementation of the reactive vaccination campaign in selected high-burden Cholera hotspots. 

“Since 16 January 2024, 77% (1,454,807) of the OCV campaign target population have been vaccinated Under the single dose regimen.

“Vaccines were brought to the country with UNICEF’s support”, it says adding that it would sustain continued technical support through National IMS pillars: Case Management, RCCE, WASH, Surveillance, Laboratory, OCV, and logistics teams.

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While a Cholera Treatment Centre (CTC) was opened by the Ministry of Health (MoH) at Heroes Stadium, the largest facility and currently accommodating 568 Cholera patients, of which 195 (34%) are children, it said it procured and pre-positioned 10 Tents dispatched within Lusaka Province Cholera CTCs as per MoH needs.

Other notable interventions towards containing the cholera outbreak had been the delivery of 30 Renewable Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD) kits, accessed by the MoH through the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA), the receipt and handing over of  3200 boxes by 100 of ORS to the Ministry of Health through ZAMMSA, as well as the installation and supply of water  to 36 out of 38 water tanks in Kanyama and Matero sub-districts.