TOGETHER WE CAN CURB CHOLERA OUTBREAK IN MONGU DISTRICT.

TOGETHER WE CAN CURB CHOLERA OUTBREAK IN MONGU DISTRICT.

Zambia is struggling to contain an outbreak of cholera, which has killed more than 20 people and made more than 1,000 others sick around the country. The outbreak was initially linked to contaminated water from shallow wells but investigations indicated that contaminated food was the main culprit.

Cholera is a waterborne disease that causes severe diarrhoea and dehydration, leading to potentially fatal complications. It spreads through contaminated water and food and is often associated with poor sanitation and hygiene practices.

From time to time, I have complained about the uncollected garbage and debris in town centre markets and compounds. I started this campaign way back before the onset of Cholera was reported because the rate at which garbage was pilling with poor sanitation and hygiene practices in Mongu district is alarming.

The beautiful Barotseland plains view walking from Mongu Lodges to Maunyamo or Mulamba Harbour is full of farces due to no sanitation and hygiene practices where they can relief themselves. Maunyamo or Mulamba Harbour a trading place in Mongu district, Zambia where people have no access to improved toilets and sanitation and still using the Barotse Plain during and after floods to answer the call of nature hence contaminating the environment, it's still a bigger challenge to build and use latrines in this community. The effects of open defecation are that it pollutes the water, ground water, agricultural produce and helps spread diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera and bilharzia.

If you walk around Maunyamo harbor, Kaoma Kaoma market, Imwiko area, Mukoko Village, Mazima area, Katongo area, Dark Citiy area, and some few restaurants in our markets in Mongu district you will agree with me on the move to ban ready-to-eat foodstuff on the streets and restaurants without upholding hygiene is part of a broader effort to address the underlying causes of cholera outbreaks, including inadequate sanitation and hygiene practices.

Maunyamo harbor, Kaoma Kaoma market, Imwiko area, Mukoko Village, Mazima area, Katongo area, Dark Citiy area, etc are high densely populated parts of Mongu district with poor sanitation, but has now spread to lower-density areas.

I call for the heightened inspection of foodstuff sold in all restaurants, markets, and open areas to ensure compliance with public health guidelines with emphasize on the importance of these measures in preventing the spread of cholera: "We need to take preventive measures to contain the outbreak of cholera in our communities.

Our local authority the Mongu Municipal Council through directed from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development should enforce the necessary laws and by-laws to ban the sale of ready-to-eat foodstuff on the streets and food places without upholding hygiene. These moves will effort to curb the outbreak of cholera with the two confirmed Cholera cases have been recorded so far at Mongu District Hospital by Mongu Municipal Council Assistant Public Relations Manager Abigail Sitenge.

I urge my local authority Mongu Municipal Council to enforce the necessary laws and by-laws to ban the sale of ready-to-eat foodstuff on the streets and to heighten inspection of foodstuff sold in all restaurants in markets, and open areas in places of Maunyamo harbor, Kaoma Kaoma market, Imwiko area, Mukoko Village, Mazima area, Katongo area, Dark Citiy area and other concerned places within Mongu district.

I appeal to every individual in Mongu district to observe basic hygiene practices such as regular washing of hands with soap and clean water after using the toilet, boiling or chlorinating water for drinking, and disposing of waste properly and avoid buying ready-to-eat foodstuff on the streets.

Every individual in Mongu district from shop owners, bar operators, marketeers, bus drivers, street vendors, and community members should take necessary responsibility for their own health and the health of their community. By observing basic hygiene practices and following the regulations put in place to prevent the spread of cholera and ensure that our communities remain safe and healthy. We need to work together to ensure that everyone is aware of the regulations put in place to prevent the spread of cholera for our own safety and the safety of our communities.

Issued by
Patrick Maboshe
Freelance Journalist
+260979997382