” I am visiting Zambia to see the development situations of the cholera outbreak. It’s heartbreaking to see that totally preventable disease and preventable disease like Cholera has killed hundreds of people. This shows the importance of investing at community level. If we have water, sanitation and hygiene priorities, cholera can be completely preventable,” says IFRC secretary General Jagan Chapagain.
Today, Mr Jagan Chapagain, Secretary General and CEO of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), embarked on a special visit to Zambia’s Heroes Stadium, the current Cholera Treatment Centre (CTC), amidst the country’s ongoing battle against a cholera outbreak declared in October last year. Additionally, he visited one of the Oral Rehydration Points set up by Zambia Red Cross Society at Kalukungu in Zone 6 under the Matero Subdistrict.
Mr. Chapagain, accompanied by Zambia Red Cross Society President Frackson Ngosa, Acting Secretary General for Zambia Red Cross Society Cosmas Sakala, John Roche (IFRC Head of Delegation for the country Cluster comprising Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Zambia), and other high-profile delegates such as Dr. Joseph Seriki (Delegate CPS, Country Support Manager, Zambia) and Gloria Kunyenga (IFRC delegate in Zambia), engaged with volunteers and Ministry of Health staff managing the waiting shelter and information desk at the CTC.
He also interacted with volunteers conducting door-to-door visits and those stationed at Oral Rehydration Points (ORPs) in Matero Community, appreciating the local action of volunteer and the ZRCS Cholera response team.
In response to the severe cholera outbreak in Zambia, the IFRC launched an emergency appeal last month aimed at supporting the Zambia Red Cross Society in its auxiliary role to the Ministry of Health, addressing the outbreak’s impact on affected communities and preventing further spread.
Earlier today, Mr. Jagan paid a courtesy call on Vice President Mutale Nalumango at her office and visited the Minister of Health, Silvia Masebo, yesterday at the Cholera Treatment Centre.
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