The Lusaka City Council - LCC, has resolved to bury all shallow wells across the city as an emergency Cholera response.
This follows a surge in the daily cholera cases being recorded in the country with Lusaka being the most affected district.
Speaking during the 4th Ordinary Full Council meeting held on Wednesday, 3rd January 2024, Lusaka Mayor Ms. Chilando Chitangala explained that shallow wells are a major source of contamination and pose a serious health risk to the residents.
She has since directed all councillors to work with the Council, community leaders and health workers in the identification of active shallow wells in their respective wards to ensure they are buried as soon as possible.
She said that the cholera outbreak should be handled with utmost attention if the city was to win the fight against cholera.
“The numbers being recorded are alarming and as such we need to do everything possible to curb its further spread,” she said.
Ms. Chilando further underscored the need for water bowsers in areas such as Matero, Kanyama, Munali and Mandevu Constituencies which are currently experiencing erratic water supply.
She said that the lack of clean and safe water was a contributing factor to the cholera outbreak and that the council was working with various stakeholders such as the Ministry of Health and the Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company (LWSC) to address the issue.
The Lusaka Mayor appealed to the residents to boil their water before drinking and to practice good hygiene and sanitation.
She also advised them to avoid eating street food and to wash their hands frequently with soap and water.
Meanwhile, Acting Lusaka City Council Town Clerk, Engineer Liftery Ndaba, informed the council that Heroes Stadium has been declared a Cholera Centre, adding that it is ready to cater to the patients.
The Acting Town Clerk also revealed that the Council has released Constituency Development Fund (CDF) vehicles to be used in the epicentres to respond to cholera cases.
He has since called on all cooperating partners to come on board and donate items such as chlorine, disinfectants, gloves, soap and other essentials to help in the fight against cholera.
He thanked the government and other stakeholders for remaining resilient and supportive in combating the cholera outbreak.