Presented to the National Assembly by Hon. Sylvia Masebo, MP Minister of Health
1st MARCH, 2024
Madam Speaker
I appreciate this opportunity to update the Members of the House on events threatening the public health security of our people and our country, Zambia. Through this statement I wish to update the house on the current cholera outbreak situation.
Allow me to reiterate to this August House that this Government, through the excellent leadership of our Republican President, His Excellency Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, attaches great importance to securing the health of our people and the nation at large.
Madam Speaker
Our SADC region has been battling cholera with 73% of all cholera cases on the African continent being reported from the SADC region.
Currently, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, DRC, South Africa and Mozambique have been trying to halt and stop the spread of Cholera so that it does not disrupt our lives and livelihood.
Since 18th October 2023, when two cholera cases were reported in Kanyama constituency, we have experienced an unfortunate surge in cholera cases affecting 71 districts. This posed a significant threat to the health of our people. This has been driven by the effect of climate change and other social and environmental determinants. Specifically, natural disasters such as storms which have increased in frequency with accompanying flash floods have increased the chances of water contamination with subsequent increased transmission and hence outbreaks of diarrheal diseases like cholera. These floods have spread sewage into boreholes, natural water bodies, wells and washed away pipelines and sanitation infrastructure. Further, the prolonged droughts and warmer weathers due to climate change have allowed for several carriers of pathogens (germs) to remain active for longer periods and this has created room for disease spread.
Madam Speaker,
As of today the 1st of March, 2024, a total of 20,577 cumulative cases had been recorded across the country with 19,746 discharges and 699 deaths. Sixty percent (60%) of these deaths have been happening in communities and people have been brought in dead (BID). Majority of those who died in our facilities are our people who did not report early to our facilities and died within minutes of admission.
Through our dedication and resolve to control this outbreak, we are able to appreciate that our joint work is showing improved results. Our admissions, have reduced from the peak of 1,187 a day in the second week of January this year to now under 100 admissions a day. This steady downward trend has been observed even in the cholera epi-centre of Lusaka where we have been recording less that 50 new cases daily over the last 2 weeks. The marked reduction of new cases has been reflected by the witnessed zero admissions to our main and largest admission center, the Heroes Cholera Treatment Center which has not admitted a patient for the past 9 days. This is extremely remarkable and unprecedented.
Iam glad that through the teams we assembled comprising community-based volunteers, environment health workers, nutritionists, biomedical scientists or technologists, pharmacists, laboratory nurses, clinical officers, medical licentiates, doctors, all health workers; we achieved the un-imaginable. Special thanks indeed to these dedicated servants of our country.
We were concerned of the rising number of cases on the Copperbelt and Central Provinces during the first three weeks of February, 2024. We since then sent technical teams to support the provinces and ensure the situation does not explode into a heavier disease burden. We have now observed a similar downward trend in these two provinces in terms of new cases and deaths as well.
Madam Speaker,
We engaged GAVI the vaccine alliance and through the United Nations (UN) systems, we received oral cholera vaccine doses which we have vaccinated our people. Considering the limited number of oral cholera vaccine doses, we opted to vaccinate in the hotspot areas. The high risks areas considered for vaccination included Luangwa, Chongwe, Rufunsa and Lusaka Districts. For Lusaka, the focus was in the hotspots communities specifically, Kanyama, Matero, Chawama and Mandevu constituencies. I am pleased to report that 1,888,112 individuals have been vaccinated in our hotspot areas. We have further vaccinated a total 3,952 healthcare workers and 3,634 people in correctional facilities.
Madam Speaker,
I wish to acknowledge the high-level leadership in the response to cholera, noting the role of His Excellency Mr Hakainde Hichilema as the Global Cholera Elimination Agenda Champion and recently appointed SADC cholera elimination ambassador. This leadership has shown that
that even those who are suffering from a stigmatized disease can have dignified treatment; can have dignified meals; and indeed, can have dignified beddings.
The political and technical support to the cholera outbreak response is well coordinated emphasising the multisectoral approach. Coordination of the outbreak is under the Office of the Vice President through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) with technical support from the Ministry of Health is ongoing.
It is worth noting that the multisectoral approach in the response to the cholera outbreak has recognised the social and environmental determinants of Cholera outbreaks. Following the directive from His Excellency the President Mr Hakainde Hichilema, all sectors are tasked with specific roles towards the final elimination of cholera. These include sustainable and long-term solutions towards access to clean water and adequate sanitation facilities in communities, schools, health facilities and public places. Further, proper and legal planning of communities where our people live has been highlighted as key to curb any new cases of cholera in the long term.
Madam Speaker,
Allow me to acknowledge the continued partnerships which have resulted in support from the various cooperating partners locally and intentionally who have joined us in the fight against Cholera. Most have provided both financial and technical support. We would not have managed to achieve these successes without the support of each and everyone in the community. We have received great support from our local partners and individuals. These include various banks and various business partners, organizations, health associations and individuals. We also received overwhelming support from traditional and religious groupings and individual families. We have received huge support from our various cooperating partners from United Nations bodies such as the WHO, UNICEF, the US government, Japanese Government, Indian government, Chinese government, World bank, Africa CDC, MSF and several other bodies and agencies.
Madam Speaker,
We added another pillar of getting to the community to help move the clean-up campaign together with our counterparts from the Local government. We are encouraged by the support we get from the community. We hope our people will maintain good hygiene practices. We are making sure that our markets, our drinking places, our restaurants, our schools and all our public places are clean.
Allow me to reiterate the tireless efforts of our community volunteers who have been trained and have been on the ground engaging the people in the communities and actively sharing messages on cholera prevention and treatment. In addition, we have had a lot of support from volunteers in the various cholera treatment centers.
Additionally, oral rehydration points supported by the community volunteers and health workers are also acting as community treatment points. This has helped triage patient that need referral to cholera treatment centres in time and thereby reducing the community mortalities. These oral rehydration points are a game changer as they also reduce the burden on the already overwhelmed cholera treatment centres.
Madam Speaker,
As I conclude, I would like to reiterate that Cholera is not yet over. It is still present with us and without concerted multisectoral efforts in the areas of water sanitation and hygiene, these outbreaks may be seen again in the coming years.
I implore the public to adhere to public health preventive measures that are being given. We must all continue
- Consuming clean and safe water; either boiled or chlorinated water stored in clean containers.
- Frequent handwashing with soap and safe water, especially before, during, and after food preparation, and after using the toilet.
- Urgently seeking medical attention at the nearest healthcare facility upon experiencing symptoms of watery diarrhea and vomiting.
My clarion call to members of this august house is to engage their communities and put on the prioritize development of Water and Sanitation facilities in the communities.
I thank you.
Hon. Sylvia T. Masebo, MP
Minister of Health