ACTIONAID RESPONDS TO CHOLERA PANDEMIC IN ZAMBIA

ActionAid has flagged off its humanitarian response to Zambia with a donation of food and medical support to cholera affected areas.
Interim country director Jovina Newanzake flagged off the donation  worth k670,000 with the first recipient being Kanyama Level-1 Hospital in Lusaka where the highest number of cholera patients have been recorded. 
Other materials will be donated to schools and health centres in selected areas across the country where ActionAid is operating from.
Kanyama Hospital Medical  Superintendent Dr Wilson Mbewe received the donations on behalf of the Government. 
He commended ActionAid for the quick response as it would mitigate the patients' health-care and supplement there nutritional needs.
Dr Mbewe said currently an average of 32 cholera patients were being treated daily compared to over 150 a week ago.
"We have a sharp decline in cases. This is a good indicator" he said.
Ms Newanzake commended the hospital staff for the dedication to work as cholera was not only affecting the health of citizens but equally the economy.
The donated materials to Kanyama Hospital included liquid chlorine bottles, Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) face masks, latex surgical gloves,  re-usable plastic aprons, water storage buckets, gum boots and detergents.
The food stuffs included sugar, Rice, soya powder and soya chunks.