Cholera Vaccine Rollout Commences in Nakonde

Public health authorities have commenced a mass rollout out of oral cholera vaccines in Nakonde District, Muchinga Province. 200,000 doses of the medicine have been delivered to the district by the Ministry of Health and local teams say they are confident of achieving a 100% uptake rate.

“As part of the intervention that we are doing, I think that that the cholera vaccination will actually change the trajectory of the outbreak here in Nakonde. So we are very excited,” said  Dr David Silweaya, Provincial Health Director for Muchinga Province.

As part of the vaccination rollout, public health authorities are asking all eligible people in Nakonde to come forward and receive the treatment, which dramatically reduces a person’s risk of becoming infected with Cholera and developing symptoms.

“We are here for you. You are the reason we are working as health workers,” reassured Florence Chileshe, a nursing officer.

According to the Ministry of Health, Nakonde has a population of approximately 197,000.