Zambia: The administration of Monze District 191 out of 199 schools in Monze District have been declared ready to open for the first term of 2024. The school will be opening after repeated postponements due to the prevalent cholera outbreak in the country.
The Ministry of Health has been conducting nationwide checks on the educational instututions to ensure that the schools are ready for reopening on February 12. The precautionary measure was taken owing to a Cholera outbreak in parts of the Country.
Monze District Health Director, Dr Gocho Kapoba is happy that most of the schools in the districts are ready to be reopened. He also provided an update on the situation of the other seven schools of the district.
He stated that the officials are not ready for opening due to non-compliance to Cholera preventive guidelines. The officials want to ensure that the sanitation and hygiene situation of the country can be combatted.
Hygiene and sanitation is one of the most important requirements for preventing a cholera outbreak. The healthcare stakeholders of Zambia have been sensitizing the people to ensure that they can protect themselves in the face of an outbreak.
The district health director did not name the particular schools which did not meet the safety standatds. However, Kapoba says they will remain closed until they meet the required standards of Cholera prevention.
Further, Monze District Commissioner, Mwanza Malambo, says the town administration will work with Health Officers. The aim of the initiative is to ensure that the schools that are not fit to open remain closed.
He has emphasized the importance of ensuring that school environments are conducive for the learners amidst the Cholera outbreak.
Meanwhile, Monze Town Council Public Relations Officer Kanchele Kanchele has encouraged parents to equip their children with cholera-protective and preventive merchandise before they send them to school.
The people of the district have also shared their appreciation for the members of the district for their dedication towards safety and health. One of the social media users wrote: Good to hear that, and those schools that are not yet ready, let them prepare. also, the schools that are opening on Monday should follow instructions to prevent a cholera outbreak.