LEADERSHIP FAILURE, HIGH POVERTY LEVELS WORSENING CHOLERA OUTBREAK- CRIES DR CANISIUS BANDA
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Former UPND Vice President (Administration) Dr. Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba and Vice President for Politics Dr. Canisius Banda with President Hakainde Hichilema
By Alfonso Kasongo
Public Health Specialist (PHS) Dr. Canisius Banda has described the cholera outbreak in Zambia as a national disaster, attributing escalation of the diarrhoeal disease to leadership failure on account of apparent shelving of the Multi-Sectoral Cholera Elimination Plan (MCEP) 2021-2025, which is in line with the roadmap for the Global Task Force on Cholera Control’s (GTFCC).
Daring Zambia’s Seventh Republican President Hakainde Sammy Hichilema (HSH7) to take earnest interventions, Dr. Banda attributes the outbreak of the disease to high poverty levels which he said has been triggered by high cost of living and lack of medical supplies.
President Hakainde Hichilema with Health Minister Sylvia Tembo-Masebo at Hereos Stadium
Born and bred in Lusaka’s densely populated Mandevu Constituency, Dr. Banda says a destitute environment has contributed to the escalating cases of cholera stressing a radical need to prioritise ameliorating high poverty, high income inequality and high unemployment.
“Poverty and cleanliness do not go together, let us end poverty and this disease will disappear,” Dr. Banda says.
As worried Dr. Banda spoke, Cholera, a contagious diarrhoeal disease had claimed over 528 lives since it broke in October 2023.
Dr. Banda, a former Ministry of Health (MoH) Spokesperson at Ndeke House reiterated that the MCEP 2021-2025 spearheaded by then Sixth Republican President Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu and former Health Minister Dr. Chitalu Chilufya remains key to nip the water bourne burden in the bud.
Vice President Ms. Inonge Mutukwa-Wina touring Medical Stores in Lusaka with Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya on Tuesday 19th May 2020 – Picture by Ministry of Health Public Relations Unit
However, Dr. Banda cast doubt on the United Party for National Development (UPND) Administrations effective capacity to implement the elimination plan.
“There is leadership failure to eliminate cholera at MoH as the programme left by Patriotic Front (PF) team is not being adhered to by Health Minister Sylvia Tembo-Masebo and her technocrats,” grieved Dr. Banda.
Citing MCEP 2021-2025, as a guiding document to ensure Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure and services are established in all high-risk areas, Dr. Banda laments failure to manage cases through surveillance.
Zambia has experienced Cholera since 1977 with Lusaka being one of the main hotspots of cholera with Vubwi, Chipata and Mwans- abombwe districts bordering Mozambique, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Malawi remaining prone.
Dr. Banda government to consider inclusion of Dr. Chilufya in the multi-sectoral committee to stop cholera
“PF introduced the Lab for early detection to mprove diagnosis at Levy Mwanawasa General Hospital. UPND needs to bring Chitalu Chilufya in the multi sectoral committee.We need to serve lives by following plan.” prayed Dr. Banda.
Dr. Canisius Banda with Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu
ENDS///pix
