By Alka Subramanian | Executive Director
We would like to wish all moms a Happy Mother’s Day. Here is an update from the field that will make you smile.
Cholera outbreak: Zambia went through a cholera outbreak beginning in October 2017. The impact of this outbreak was severe in Lusaka and especially in our community of Matero and the surrounding communities of Chipata, Kanyama, Chawama, Chilenje and Chelston due to contaminated water supplies, contaminated food, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene practices in these areas.
Action taken by the Government: The Ministry of Health stepped in to take measures to control and prevent the spread of cholera in December 2017. Street vending businesses and other open markets were identified as areas that could aggravate the outbreak due to untreated trash and poor sanitation in the community. In December 2017, President Edgar Lungu directed the military to clean markets and unblock drains to help to fight the spread of the disease. Schools were closed, and meetings of more than 2-3 people were not allowed till January end. According to the Minister of Health, 1.3 million people were vaccinated against cholera by late January. Schools and markets that were closed to prevent the spread of cholera started reopening mid-January 2018. At present, the cholera outbreak is under control.
Direct Impact on children enrolled in our program: Most of the beneficiary families live in Matero, one of the areas severely impacted by the cholera outbreak. Co-infections rates between cholera and HIV are high; and cholera can be fatal for children living with HIV. However, none of the 350 HIV+ children under our care contracted cholera. We attribute this result to the ongoing training and education provided by our health care staff. We are proud of our team on the ground.
Thanks for your continued caring and support for HIV+ orphans and vulnerable children in Zambia.
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