Zambia has opted to delay the commencement of the school year by an additional three weeks due to a surging cholera outbreak, as announced by the Education Minister on Thursday.
Douglas Syakalima informed reporters in the capital, Lusaka, that “All public and private early childhood, primary and secondary schools remain closed for a further three weeks after the official opening date of January 8, 2024. This means that schools will only reopen on Monday, January 29.”
On Thursday, the nation recorded a grim daily milestone with 23 deaths and 342 new cholera cases, bringing the cumulative figures to 150 deaths and 4,097 cases since October of the previous year.
Health Minister Sylvia Masebo disclosed that the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka, boasting a seating capacity of 60,000, has been designated as a cholera treatment centre. This decision aims to alleviate the strain on existing healthcare facilities.
Masebo emphasised ongoing efforts to raise awareness, urging citizens to refrain from purchasing food from unsafe sources and to uphold the highest standards of hygiene. Following a mass sensitization roadshow in Lusaka on Thursday, she reiterated the collective responsibility to curb the spread of cholera.
“We continue sensitising our citizens not to buy food from unsafe locations and to observe the highest level of hygiene so that together we can curb the spread of cholera,” she said
In addition to these measures, the country implemented a ban on street vending last week as part of its comprehensive strategy to combat the outbreak.