President Hichilema Joins SADC Virtual Meeting Addressing Cholera Outbreak
President Hakainde Hichilema participated in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) virtual Extraordinary Meeting to address the cholera outbreak affecting the region. The meeting, held at State House in Lusaka, was officially opened by SADC Chairperson and Angolan President, Joao Lourenco.
President Lourenco urged a robust and collective approach among SADC Member States to effectively prevent the spread of cholera. He emphasized the need for concerted efforts from cooperating partners, stating that meaningful development in the region requires a solid collective responsibility to curb waterborne diseases.
The Angolan President, noting that epidemics like cholera know no boundaries, expressed optimism that collaborative efforts with partners such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centre for Disease Control Prevention would prevent the cholera situation in the SADC region.
President Lourenco pledged his country’s commitment to lead in finding solutions to tackle cholera and other diseases affecting the people. He emphasized a holistic approach, urging continuous improvement in water quality to prevent disease outbreaks.
President Lourenco called for intensified sensitization in communities about cholera prevention, attributing waterborne diseases to climate change’s negative impacts like flooding and prolonged droughts.
Highlighting the need for effective investment in vaccine manufacturing, President Lourenco encouraged SADC member states to become self-reliant in vaccine production. He called for collaborative efforts among member states to establish vaccine manufacturing industries, aiming to promote health systems in the region.
President Lourenco expressed optimism that the extraordinary meeting would lead to proactive actions and strategies to eradicate the cholera epidemic. He also called for heightened surveillance and hygienic measures at border areas to prevent further spread of the waterborne disease.
“The vision of SADC is to prevent current and future pandemics affecting the region; this extraordinary meeting on cholera will devise collective measures for a cholera-free region,” stated President Lourenco.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to collaborative efforts to combat the cholera outbreak and enhance public health systems across SADC member states.
Source: ZANIS
