An outbreak of cholera in northern Zambia has forced the government to shut a border post with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after reported cases rose to 105 on Monday.
"We have closed Chiengi border post with immediate effect, in order to ensure there is no further spread of the disease. There have been a lot of people crossing to Zambia for free medical facilities, and we suspect this heavy traffic of people is largely responsible for the outbreak of the disease in the area," Peter Mumba, permanent secretary in the Ministry of the Interior, told IRIN.
Five people have died since the outbreak was reported on 30 October, and the government and health NGOs have rushed to set up emergency treatment centres in the area to help cope with the patient load, said ministry of health spokesperson Canisius Banda.
"Our officials are currently distributing free chlorine for water treatment, and we are also encouraging each family to dig a pit latrine and a rubbish pit - we are doing a lot of community sensitisation," Banda told IRIN.
Zambia scrapped user fees at government clinics and hospitals in rural areas early this year, triggering an influx of people from the DRC's Katanga Province. Chiengi border post has also been a major entry point for refugees escaping instability in Zambia's giant neighbour.
Celeste Mwanakisi, acting chairman-general of the Cross-Border Traders' Association, said the closure of Chiengi would hurt small-scale traders selling foodstuffs to the DRC, and importing garments into Zambia.
"Inasmuch as we appreciate the move to close the border on health grounds, we are appealing to the government to speed up control measures so that the border can be opened soon, before we lose out on businesses," he said.
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"We have closed Chiengi border post with immediate effect, in order to ensure there is no further spread of the disease. There have been a lot of people crossing to Zambia for free medical facilities, and we suspect this heavy traffic of people is largely responsible for the outbreak of the disease in the area," Peter Mumba, permanent secretary in the Ministry of the Interior, told IRIN.
Five people have died since the outbreak was reported on 30 October, and the government and health NGOs have rushed to set up emergency treatment centres in the area to help cope with the patient load, said ministry of health spokesperson Canisius Banda.
"Our officials are currently distributing free chlorine for water treatment, and we are also encouraging each family to dig a pit latrine and a rubbish pit - we are doing a lot of community sensitisation," Banda told IRIN.
Zambia scrapped user fees at government clinics and hospitals in rural areas early this year, triggering an influx of people from the DRC's Katanga Province. Chiengi border post has also been a major entry point for refugees escaping instability in Zambia's giant neighbour.
Celeste Mwanakisi, acting chairman-general of the Cross-Border Traders' Association, said the closure of Chiengi would hurt small-scale traders selling foodstuffs to the DRC, and importing garments into Zambia.
"Inasmuch as we appreciate the move to close the border on health grounds, we are appealing to the government to speed up control measures so that the border can be opened soon, before we lose out on businesses," he said.
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This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
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