UNICEF recently provided the Zambian Ministry of Health with supplies worth $12,000 to aid in the response to an outbreak of cholera, which has so far seen 549 cases and four deaths.
“While this support from UNICEF will go a long way in complementing the efforts of the Ministry of Health to control the current cholera outbreak, it is my fervent hope and prayer that the government of the Republic of Zambia and partners will look into long term solutions to address outbreaks of waterborne diseases,” UNICEF Zambia Representative Dr. Hamid El-Bashir Ibrahim said.
The supplies include a diarrhea kit that will allow the response team to treat 500 cases – 100 severe and 400 mild or moderate. It also includes measures to provide for the specific needs of infected children.
“As a government we are happy to have UNICEF, our all-weather friend, coming to our aid during this outbreak,” Zambia Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Dr. Peter Mwaba said. “I am relieved because I now know that in terms of supplies to use and looking after our staff we are done.”
