Zambia: Minister of Health Sylvia Masebo says the two-week extension of school reopening should not be treated as a holiday but rather as a period of improving sanitation to avoid cholera.
Masebo said the cleaning of schools should not be left to the authorities only but that parents must get involved in the cleaning of schools in readiness for reopening on the 12th of February 2024.
She said parents must actively get involved by ensuring that schools where their children study have clean water and toilets.
Masebo said the keeping of schools clean calls for collective efforts and not just government alone.
The Minister stressed that the community must help in supporting efforts aimed at keeping schools clean and safe.
Masebo said teachers, parents, and pupils need to work together to improve sanitation in schools if cholera is to be eradicated. She said cholera is a preventable disease if hygiene practices are observed.
Meanwhile Masebo says the Ministry is making steady progress with the administering of the oral cholera vaccine.
“We continue making steady progress in protecting our people through the administration of oral cholera vaccines.”
She disclosed that in the last seven days, 1,745,004 individuals in cholera hotspot areas have been vaccinated.
Masebo further indicated that 810,303 males have been vaccinated while 934,701 females have received the oral cholera vaccine.
“For the past seven days since we launched the vaccination program, we have vaccinated a cumulative 1,745,004 individuals in our hotspot areas. 810,303 (46%) of those vaccinated are males whereas 934,701 (54%) are females.”
Meanwhile, according to the Minister of Health, 3,356 health care workers in the cholera treatment facilities have been vaccinated.
“We have further vaccinated 3,356 health care workers working in the cholera treatment facilities or those working in high-risk areas.”