Africa-Press – Eswatini. A Liswati has been a victim of the cholera outbreak which has claimed the lives of 534 people in Zambia.
Zambia is facing a severe cholera outbreak, resulting in the death of over 500 individuals and the infection of more than 10 000.
The local whose identity was withheld was studying in Zambia.
In response, authorities have mandated the closure of schools nationwide following the end-of-year holidays.
To address the crisis, a prominent soccer stadium in the capital has been repurposed into a treatment facility.
Statistics shared by Zambia’s ministry of health indicate that by yesterday there were 534 recorded deaths since October which were related to the Cholera outbreak.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Communications Officer, Sikhumbuzo Bhembe, confirmed that there was a reported death case of a student who was in Zambia.
Outbreak
Bhembe did not divulge much information save to say that the ministry was trying to assist the family of the deceased with the repatriation process.
He said they had issued a travel advisory for Emaswati, noting that the Republic of Zambia’s National Public Health Institute reported an outbreak of cholera in Lusaka since October, 2023.
“As the outbreak continues and cases rise in that country, the ministry appeals to parents, students and visitors to take caution and monitor any symptoms that may develop.
Symptoms
These include profuse watery diarrhoea, thirst, vomiting, restlessness or irritability, and leg cramps, among other symptoms. Should a person develop any of these, medical attention should be sought immediately,” reads part of the advisory.
The ministry further advised the general public, parents, and students planning to travel outside of the country about the continued importance of obtaining health or travel insurance in order to be financially protected against unforeseen and undesirable circumstances that may arise in that country of destination, and at times of transit.
According to the ministry, it is crucial that Emaswati travellers remain vigilant and informed on health and other matters as monitored by those countries visited.
Bhembe said government was currently on a tight budget and the availability of relevant insurances, allows one to be easily assisted.
He cautioned that due to the high cost of such incidents, as well as government’s current financial position, it was not possible to provide the necessary financial assistance to affected individuals, and thus the insurances become crucial.
The Zambian government, on the other hand, is actively initiating a widespread vaccination campaign and is supplying affected communities throughout the southern African nation with 2.4 million litres of clean water daily in an effort to combat the outbreak.
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