Zambia: The administration of Isoka District in Muchinga Province has created a multi-stakeholder task force to spearhead the cleaning of the town.
The members of the community have formed the task force The initiative is aimed at encouraging community participation in ‘Keeping Isoka Clean,’. The initiative is further part of the Keep Zambia Clean, Green and Health Campaign.
The task force will also spearhead the prevention of cholera in the district despite the country wide has not yet recorded any case of the disease.
The authorities appreciated the commendable display of community spirit in the district. Government workers in Isoka District also joined efforts with the residents to clean the town.
Isoka District Council Chairperson Arredy Silwimba commended the community and stakeholders for their proactive efforts in preventing a Cholera outbreak.
Speaking during a cleaning exercise in Isoka District Silwimba stressed the importance of the community working with local authorities to keep the district clean as a preventive measure against diseases.
“We have engaged the community so that we work together to prevent this outbreak that has just come,” he said.
Meanwhile, Isoka District Commissioner Jairo Simbeye said the ‘Keep Isoka Clean (KIC) is a “community-driven initiative ensuring cleanliness and disease prevention.”
Simbeye emphasized the need for collaboration between the community and local authorities to sustain a clean, cholera-free Isoka town.
“In response to a Presidential directive, the district implements a systematic approach to maintain cleanliness, supported by government programmes like decentralization and the Constituency Development Fund (CDF),” he said.
Meanwhile, the KIC Task Force Chairperson Elijah Sinkonlongo also applauded the community’s commitment to working with Isoka Town Council in an effort to prevent a cholera outbreak
Sinkolongo underscored the importance of prevention over cure, while a community member, Lawrence Sichande, expressed gratitude for the initiative.
Sichande urged other members to embrace the same spirit of community responsibility in keeping Isoka clean.
The maintenance of cleanliness in the district is one of the major reasons for the nil cases of cholera infections in the district. The authorities have applauded the various communities for abiding by precautions to ensure that none of their numbers are affected by the outbreak.