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LUSAKA. –LUSAKA, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) — Zambia yester day commenced the administration of the oral cholera vaccine in the shanty compounds of Lusaka, the country’s capital, most affected by the current outbreak.

The authorities started administering 1.4 million doses out of the 1.7 million vaccines received from the World Health Organization in Matero township, one of the affected shanty compounds.

Minister of Health Sylvia Masebo said at the launch that residents would be given one dose each instead of the recommended two doses because the vaccines were not sufficient to cater to all people.

The vaccine, she added, will also be given to health workers who have been at the forefront of the fight against cholera.

The minister, however, emphasized the need to maintain hygiene, adding that the government is doing everything possible to fight cholera, such as burying shallow wells and providing clean and safe drinking water.

Zambia has been battling the cholera outbreak since October last year, with the total number of cases now standing at 9 953, while 397 people have died.

Meanwhile, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has launched an emergency appeal for 4 million Swiss Francs. This fund is aimed at supporting the Zambia Red Cross Society to mitigate the impact of the outbreak on affected communities and prevent further spread.

The outbreak initially emerged from peri-urban areas of Lusaka province, where most of the cases are being reported. 

John Roche, IFRC Head of Delegation Country Cluster for Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi, said:

“To ensure no more lives are lost, we must prioritize access to clean and safe water. With the waterborne disease spreading rapidly, we are deeply concerned about the situation unfolding. – Xinhua