Zambia: Minister of Health, Sylvia Masebo has shared an update on the cholera situation in the country. The update came during the minister’s parliamentary statement delivered on Friday, March 1.
The ministry of health recorded the first two cases in the country from Kanyama in October 2023. Ever since the waterborne disease outbreak has spread to several parts of the country. As of March 1, 2024, the cumulative cholera cases in the country stand at 20,577.
During the Ministerial Statement in Parliament, Friday, Masebo shared a comprehensive report on the situation. According to the Ministry of Health, 699 deaths have been recorded during the period under review.
The Minister, Sylvia Masebo further stated that 60% of these deaths happened out of a health facility. Meanwhile, the healthcare authorities have treated and discharged 19,746 patients with an all clear.
The cholera situation was extremely difficult in the country in the first month of the year. During the second week of January the number of hospital admissions due to cholera peaked at 1,187 a day.
However, the Minister of Health was happy to announce that the situation has improved with healthcare authorities of the country recording under 100 admissions a day.
She claimed that Lusaka Province, which was the epicentre of the Cholera outbreak has also recorded reduced cases. The healthcare officials of the country are happy with this positive development.
Minister of Health Sylvia Masebo announced that Lusaka is recording less than 50 new cases daily over the last 2 weeks. She added that the marked reduction of new cases can be seen by clearly in the province.
There are zero admissions to the main and largest admission center at Heroes Stadium in Lusaka. Masebo further talked about the government’s actions on the situation.
Further, the during her ministerial address she announced that government had engaged GAVI, the vaccine alliance.
Through the United Nations systems the authorities have procured oral cholera vaccine doses and people of the country have been vaccinated.
According to the Minister of Health, they have vaccinated 1,888,112 individuals in various Cholera hotspot areas. The numbers also include 3,952 healthcare workers and 3,634 people in correctional facilities.
Masebo warned that Cholera is not yet over. Accordingly, they need to implement continued measures to curb the spread of the infection further.