Government has launched an Oral Cholera Vaccination Campaign in Lusaka, with more than 500,000 doses earmarked for Lusaka and Chibombo districts in the first phase. Minister of Health, Roma Chilengi, says the campaign would target wards with the highest cholera burden as part…

Government has launched an Oral Cholera Vaccination Campaign in Lusaka, with more than 500,000 doses earmarked for Lusaka and Chibombo districts in the first phase.

Minister of Health, Roma Chilengi, says the campaign would target wards with the highest cholera burden as part of efforts to curb the spread of the disease.

Dr Chilengi, who was represented by Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Kennedy Lishimpi, said this during the official launch of the campaign in Lusaka today.

He said the outbreak, which was confirmed in Lusaka on July 28, 2026, had spread to 12 districts across five provinces.

Dr Chilengi disclosed that the country had recorded 43 new cholera cases in the previous 24 hours, with no deaths, bringing the cumulative number of cases to 966 and deaths to 25 since the outbreak began.

He noted that cholera was largely associated with unsafe water, poor sanitation, inadequate waste collection and limited public awareness, requiring a coordinated, multisectoral response.

Dr Chilengi said Oral Cholera Vaccination was an important protective measure that should complement other interventions, including early disease detection, effective case management, surveillance, safe water supply, proper sanitation and waste management.

He said the Government was also working with local authorities, the education sector, civil society and the private sector to promote hygiene, improve waste collection and ensure that communities received accurate information about cholera prevention.

The Minister urged eligible residents to receive the oral cholera vaccine when vaccination teams reached their wards and advised those experiencing watery diarrhea to seek immediate treatment at the nearest health facility.

Meanwhile, Lusaka Provincial Health Director, Simulyamana Choonga, represented by Ministry of Health Public Health Specialist, Mascinah Kayawe, called on eligible residents to participate in the vaccination campaign.

Dr Choonga said the campaign was critical to preventing cholera infections, severe illness and deaths, but emphasised that vaccination alone would not eliminate the disease.

He urged households to observe food safety, and called on community leaders, local authorities and volunteers to strengthen collaboration and ensure that no eligible person was left out of the exercise.

And Raphael Chota Ward Chairman, Lyold Kaseke, urged residents to cooperate with health authorities during the vaccination exercise to help contain the outbreak.