Maravi

Kanyama MP blames govt over cholera in his area

Kanyama MP blames govt over cholera in his area
Written by Gloria Siwisha and Gillian Namungala
Wednesday, January 14, 2009 9:49:51 AM

KANYAMA PF member of parliament Colonel Gerry Chanda yesterday urged the government to urgently work towards improving sanitation standards as a long-term solution to combating cholera.

And Ministry of Health spokesperson Dr Canicius Banda yesterday disclosed that the Zambian government had released K2 billion (US$ 400,000) to assist Zimbabwe deal with its cholera outbreak.

In an interview, Col Chanda complained that he was not satisfied with the way the government was handling the cholera outbreak in his area because intensified preparations should have been made during the dry season.

“For me its carelessness on government's part because cholera is one issue that is very easy to solve. All that is required is to improve the hygiene standards all the time. We don't have to wait for an outbreak for people to act or realise that poor sanitation has always been an issue in Kanyama. It pains me as area MP when I look at the pathetic sanitation standards,” he said.

Poor water and sanitation system has been blamed on the spread of cholera in Zambia.

However, Col Chanda expressed happiness that the Ministry of Health had managed to supply chlorine but that more was still needed if the situation was to be contained.

“The situation is better than it was last year maybe because the shallow wells were limed, but we are not completely happy that there hasn't been much collaboration with the minister. I want to see a situation where we work together with him so that long term measures are put in place,” said Col Chanda.

And Speaking during on 'Let the people talk' programme on Radio Phoenix yesterday, Dr Banda disclosed that Zambia had released K2 billion to assist Zimbabwe address cholera.

“The president [Rupiah Banda] was concerned with the cholera situation in Zimbabwe and directed a team of medical personnel who have since submitted a report resulting in the release of K2 billion,” said Dr Banda

“As I speak, officers are putting logistics and trucks to start off for Zimbabwe to assist in the crisis.”

As for Zambia, Dr Banda said out of the 769 cholera cases recorded in Lusaka, 472 were from Kanyama compound.

He said Lusaka had received 769 cholera cases from September to date.

Dr Banda observed that the cases had been recorded from settlements that were not environmentally conducive.

Dr Banda, who said cholera occurred as a result of poor sanitation and dirty drinking water, said areas without such facilities were prone to cholera.

He catalogued Chipata, Chawama and Kanyama compounds as some of the areas which were mostly hit by the disease.

He said in Northern and Luapula provinces, the ministry had not recorded any cholera cases.

Dr Banda, however said 28 deaths had so far been recorded out of the reported cholera cases.

He further stressed the need for upgrading settlements that were not environmentally conducive if cases were to be eliminated.

“The Ministry of Local Government, I am sure, is working on this to ensure that such areas have piped water, schools and clinics. Areas where these things are, there are no cases of cholera. There is need for educating the population because it's not common to hear an educated person fall sick but most of the people that are affected are uneducated.”

Dr Banda however said addressing cholera needed a multi-sectoral approach.

“A number of society departments should play their roles to ensure there is no cholera,” he said.

Dr Banda urged members of the community to get to the hospital when they see that they have cholera because the ministry had the capacity to respond to the disease.

And authorities in Mazabuka have closed four more basic schools in chief Hanjalika's area where cholera has broken out.

But St Josephs, which is located 100 metres from the cholera centre, has been spared on grounds that school authorities would be required to enforce stiff disciplinary measures for pupils going out of bounds.

Mazabuka District Education Board Secretary Darius Kaluba confirmed the development to ZANIS in Mazabuka yesterday.

Kaluba said the closure of the schools follows a fresh outbreak of the disease in Chivuna area where five villagers were admitted to the clinic which has since been turned into a cholera centre.

Labels: CHOLERA, GERRY CHANDA, UTILITIES

posted by MrK @ 9:50 AM