By PASSY HAACHIZO –
CHOLERA is distinctive among diarrhoeal diseases and wherever it breaks out, some lives are lost.
The disease is characterised by acute diarrhoea and vomiting, dehydrating the patient within a short time and thus leading to death if fluids are not replenished on time.
It is common in areas with poor sanitation, especially during the rainy season.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has revealed that during a cholera outbreak in several Kenyan villages in 2008, studies showed higher numbers of cases and deaths than reported.
There were 37 per cent more surviving cases while 200 per cent more fatal ones were found, raising the estimated case-fatality rate (CFR) from 5.5 per cent to 11.4 per cent.
In less developed countries, many deaths from cholera probably occur before patients reach the hospital for treatment. Facility-based cholera mortality figures are very likely to be underestimates.
Central Province alone so far recorded eight cases of cholera as of 17th February, 2016 and all the cases were being handled at Twalumba Mission Health Centre in Chibombo District.
The health centre, which has been isolated to handle cholera cases, has a 25-bed capacity with only eight members of staff: One clinician, a technologist, three nurses of whom one is a midwife, and three general workers against a populace of about 4,304 from 1,900 households.
The first case of cholera was recorded at this centre on the 9th February, 2016. Later, seven more people were found with the disease.
The eight cases included five female adults, two male adults and one female child.
Three of these people, who included a child, were from the same family in a township called Mapuloti.
Central Province Permanent Secretary Daisy Ng’ambi visited the patients and was informed by Chibombo District Medical Officer Dr Priscilla Chisha that the last three patients would be discharged by 12:00 hours on Wednesday 17th February, 2016.
“We are managing them very well and we are likely to discharge these last three today by 12:00 hours. For now, we just want to observe their hydration status because they still have diarrhoea,” she said.
Dr Chisha said the medical team was on the ground raising awareness among members of the public by intensifying preventive and control measures at all levels of health care.
The team of health experts had moved to affected areas and carried out more sensitisation. The team was also spraying disinfectants in homes to rid households of cholera causing organisms.
Dr Chisha said the cholera centre was also making sure that chlorine was distributed to all the households under Twalumba through the provincial medical officers and partners, UNICEF.
According to Dr Chisha, the team had also targeted the two markets and five schools in the catchment area of which two schools and both markets had so far been sensitised.
Provincial Medical Officer Rosemary Mwanza said the provincial office would ensure that preventive and control measures were undertaken at all costs.
“We have also taken some samples of water from communal taps which we have since sent to Lusaka to the food and drug laboratory for testing to determine if it is safe for human consumption,” she said.
Dr Mwanza and her team have since started conducting surveillance in communities.
The medical team was also alerting members of the public and advising them to report any symptoms of cholera in their communities.
Ms Ng’ambi commended the Ministry of Health for working together with the provincial office to ensure that cholera does not spread.
“I would also like to thank madam Mwanza for updating me on the occurances in the district, and for coming to collect more chlorine from my office; please let us keep up and help our people,” she said.
Ms Ng’ambi appealed to members of the public, especially the church, to avoid handshakes.
But traders at John Cinena in Chibombo District said it would be tricky to fight the cholera outbreak without dust bins where people could dispose of garbage.
They said people were forced to dispose of refuse in the nearby bush.
Queen Yawawa feared that lack of dust bins had the potential to expose many people to diseases, other than cholera.
She also feared that people who consumed foodstuffs prepared and sold in dirty surroundings risked getting sick.
“We try our best to clean the area and dump garbage somewhere every day in our attempts to keep the area cleans,” Charity Chikonkoto, a local trader said.
Recently, Ministry of Health acting spokesperson Tasila Tembo told journalists in Lusaka that Lusaka had not experienced a cholera outbreak in the last six years.
“There is a confirmed outbreak of cholera in Kanyama Township where 20 cases have been attended to and nine people are receiving treatment and four have been discharged from the centre,” she said.
The ministry collected water and food samples from the area for testing and held orientation workshops on the disease.
Ms Tembo appealed to Kanyama residents to avoid gatherings and unnecessary handshakes to avoid the disease.
She advised members of the public to desist from eating food from the streets and also avoid frequenting areas affected by cholera.
Health Deputy Minister Chitalu Chilufya said Government had taken the cholera outbreak with seriousness. He said for six years, Lusaka had managed to control cholera.
“We have taken this outbreak seriously because we had managed to curb it in the last six years and to have it now is an indication that we have to place our country on high alert and contain it, “Dr Chilufya said.
Lusaka District medical officer Gideon Zulu said Kanyama Clinic was expected to record more patients because the area had poor sanitation and hygiene.
“Sanitation levels are very poor here; we are expected to receive more patients if residents will not adhere to hygiene techniques by stakeholders going round the community sensitising them,” he warned.
According to Lusaka provincial medical officer Kennedy Malama, cholera was spreading at a fast rate despite Government trying to put preventive measures.
“I can confirm that another case of cholera has been confirmed in Lusaka’s Kabanana Township, four in Chibombo and two in Chipata townships,” he said.
He said the disease had the potential to become a national disaster if not properly handled.
Lusaka District Commissioner Davies Mulenga said the Lusaka City Council (LCC) was doing everything possible to reduce the spread of the disease.
Health Minister Dr Joseph Kasonde told journalists in Livingstone recently that the Ministry of Finance had released K25 million to the Ministry of Health to support the preparedness and response activities for epidemics such as cholera.
“I therefore urge the civic and community leaders to provide leadership and play their role in the prevention and control of cholera in their respective communities,” he said.
It is, therefore, cardinal that every citizen joins in the fight if the battle is to be won.