Lusaka Province has so far recorded only three cases of cholera since the onset of the rainy season, according to Lusaka Province Permanent Secretary Charles Sipanje.

And government says, through the Office of the Vice-President and Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), it has released 500 metric tons of relief maize to be distributed to the vulnerable in five districts of Lusaka Province.

Speaking to journalists at the extraordinary Provincial Disaster Management Committee and District Disaster Management Committees meeting held at the Provincial administration, Tuesday, Sipanje revealed that the three cases recorded had since been successfully managed through a number of interventions that the Ministry of Health have put in place.

“Lusaka Province has recorded only three cases of cholera, which have been successfully managed. This great achievement is as a result of a number of interventions that the government, through the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders, have put in place to reduce or prevent exposure of vulnerable communities to such epidemics,” Sipanje said.

He disclosed that the task force under the Lusaka District Disaster Management Committee had been undertaking assessments of various incidents occurring in the district.

“May I also take note of the activities of the disaster task force under the Lusaka District Disaster Management Committee has been undertaking assessments of various incidents occurring in the district, such as floods and fires, and has brought out reports, which have informed interventions, such as construction of outflow drainages in Lusaka city. Places such as Avondale extensions, Mass Media and many others now have storm drainages and most of these areas have seen significant reduction in floods,” Sipanje said.

And he also announced that the Office of the Vice President and DMMU had released 500 metric tons of relief maize to be distributed to the vulnerable in five districts.

“Government, through the Office of the Vice-President and DMMU, has released 500 metric tons of relief maize to be distributed to the vulnerable in five districts. Those to benefit are Chirundu; Luangwa; Chongwe; Rufunsa and Shibuyunji, which were assessed to be food insecure during the 2017/2018 vulnerability and needs assessment. Let me announce that government is closely monitoring the food security situation in all the districts in the province so as ensure that no one dies of hunger,” said Sipanje.

“May I also inform you that a total of 35,136 hectares of maize were affected by the outbreak of fall army worms. Government and its cooperating partners, through the Ministry of Agriculture, has so far distributed 2,500 litres of chemicals. The impact, therefore, of the fall army worms on food security is expected to be insignificant.”