Zambia: Solwezi district of North-western Province has taken steps to strengthen preventive measures to contain the cholera outbreak.
The North-western Province Health Director Luckson Chidikita has called on the District Health Directors across the region to set up cholera isolation centres. The step has become necessary amidst the increasing cholera cases recorded in Lusaka.
The Lusaka Province of the country is currently struggling with the outbreak of cholera and has recorded upwards of 100 cases. The death count of the province is also high, prompting authorities to increase the preventive measures.
The other provinces of Zambia have also been affected by the outbreak due to inter-provincial travel. Travellers from Lusaka Province have brought the infection to other districts of the country. The Solwezi district has spearheaded the implementation of the preventive measure across the region.
They created a cholera treatment centre in Solwezi urban clinic on Friday. Health director Luckson Chidikita visited the health service for an inspection.
Speaking at the inspection, Dr Chidikita said although the province has not yet recorded any cholera cases, it is important to put things in place in readiness for any eventualities.
Dr Chidikita has expressed happiness that the Solwezi Urban Clinic has responded first to the Minister of Health’s directive that each health facility should have cholera isolation centres, in readiness for any cholera outbreak, in their localities.
“With continuous cholera outbreaks in Lusaka it is just inevitable each district or town should put in place cholera isolation centres in case of any outbreak. You can see, we have prepared for the first ten (10) cases of cholera if at all it happens,” he said.
He added that two wards have been created, one for females and children, while the other one is for males.
Dr Chidikita says the facility has also been equipped with enough medical supplies to deal with cases, with medical staff also put on standby.
“I think Solwezi as the district is set, we are also ready in terms of drugs and pharmaceutical products as well as human resource,” he said.