Health Minister, Masebo, cautions against laxity, as cholera cases drop to zero in 10 days

Heroes Cholera Treatment Centre has not recorded any case in the last 10 days, signaling a milestone in the fight against the outbreak.

The announcement was made by Health Minister, Sylvia Masebo, who said that as at February, 29, 2023, a total of 20, 477 cumulative cases had been recorded across the country.

Delivering a Ministerial Statement in Parliament on Friday, Masebo said 19, 650 people had been discharged and 698 deaths were recorded in the same period.

She said about 60 percent of the deaths had happened in communities and that majority of those who died in the facilities were people who did not report early.

“Our admission 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,” Masebo stated.

The Minister said the steady downward trend had been observed even in the cholera epi-center of Lusaka where the country had been recording less than 50 cases daily over the last two weeks.

She revealed that with carry over vaccines stock in the country, 1,888,112 individuals had been vaccinated in the hotspot areas.

Masebo stated that the Ministry had further vaccinated a total 3, 952 healthcare workers and 3,634 people in correctional facilities.

“We were concerned of the rising number of cases on the Copperbelt and Central Provinces during the first three weeks of February, 2024. We have since sent technical teams to support the provinces and ensure the situation does not explored,” she added.

Masebo noted that the multi-sectoral approach in the response to the cholera outbreak had recognised the social and environmental determinants of cholera outbreaks.

She reiterated that the outbreak was, however, not over and that it was still present in the country, saying without concerted multi-sectoral efforts in the areas of water sanitation and hygiene, the outbreak may be witnessed again in the coming years.

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