LEADERSHIP FAILURE, HIGH POVERTY LEVELS WORSENING CHOLERA OUTBREAK-DR CANISIUS

 LEADERSHIP FAILURE, HIGH POVERTY LEVELS WORSENING CHOLERA OUTBREAK-DR CANISIUS

       Cholera patients at National Heroes Stadium                      treatment centre.

By Alfonso Kasongo
Public health specialist Dr. Canisius Banda has described the cholera outbreak in Zambia as a national disaster,attributing the escalation of the the diarrhoeal disease to leadership failure in the management of the disease and elimination of the epidemic by 2025.

Dr. Banda further attributes the outbreak of the disease to high poverty levels which he says has been triggered by high cost of living.

He says poverty has also contributed to the escalating cases of cholera stressing the need to prioritise the fight against poverty if the disease is to be eliminated.

"Poverty and cleanliness do not go together ,Let us end poverty and this disease will go," Dr. Banda says.

Cholera, a contagious diarrhoeal disease has so far claimed over 200 lives  since its outbreak in October last year.

Dr. Banda ,who is former ministry of health Spokesperson notes that the multi-sectional cholera elimination programme devised by the former government remains a recommendable document to end cholera by 2025.
Dr. Canisius Banda
However, Dr. Banda bemoans the failure by the UPND government to effective implement the elimination programme.

"There is leadership failure to eliminate. The ministry of health programme left by Patriotic Front government to eliminate cholera is not followed," Former ministry Spokesperson says.

Dr. Banda adds that the ministry has also failed to management cases through surveillance.

He explained that the case management remains important in the reduction of fertility.

Meanwhile he stressed the need for government to consider former minister of health Dr. Chitalu Chilufya in the multi-sectoral committee to stop cholera

"PF introduced the Lab for early detection to mprove diagnosis at Levy Mwanawasa general hospital but there is failure in the management cases.

Cholera is a public health and surveillance remains critical to combat the disease.Theses are measures we need.UPND needs to bring Chitalu Chilufya in the multi sectoral committee.We need to serve lives by following plan." He adds.

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