Cholera guidelines toughen

GOVERNMENT has banned selling of perishable and ready-to-eat foods in public offices and also restricted overcrowding in public places and premises.
Government has also prohibited or restricted trading or vending in offices and surrounding premises.
Secretary to the Cabinet Patrick Kangwa said other measures taken include promotion of hygiene in all pubic premises, provision of clean safe drinking water and functional toilets with handwashing facilities.
Mr Kangwa announced the measures in circular minutes No. 1 of 2024 addressed to Secretary to the Treasury, Principal Private Secretary for State House and all permanent secretaries among others.
“An employee suffering from cholera or suspected to be suffering from cholera: (i) shall not report for work but present him/herself to a designated cholera treatment centre (ii) in the case of the employee having reported for work, appropriate measures as prescribed by the authorised officers should be undertaken,” he said.
Mr Kangwa said upon recovery, the employees shall present a sick note from the designated treatment centre and in the unlikely event of death of an employee at the office due to cholera or suspected cholera, the body shall be disposed of in conformity with the directions of the authorised officers.
He said in the event of closure of offices due to unsanitary conditions upon recommendation of the authorised officer, authority should be sought for officers to work from home using digital means.
“These preventive measures against cholera shall apply to all public and statutory institutions and will be reviewed as the situation evolves.
“All addresses are advised to urgently bring the contents of this circular to the attention of all employees under their supervision,” he said.
Mr Kangwa said Government has observed with concern the rising rate of cholera cases and deaths recorded among Zambians in the recent past.
He said since the declaration of the outbreak in October 2023, seven out of 10 provinces have reported cases, with Lusaka in particular being the most affected.
He said the rising number of cases is largely attributed to low levels of adherence to public health measures that have been put in place to curb the spread of cholera.
Mr Kangwa said the current situation of increased cases of cholera poses high risk to human resources, which may negatively impact service delivery.
And President Hakainde Hichilema has reiterated his call for citizens to adhere to the health guidelines being given by health authorities in order for the cholera outbreak to be contained…