LUSAKA, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Zambia on Thursday launched an initiative to strengthen the country's capacity to tackle cholera outbreaks through community-centered approaches.
The Cholera Community Protection Game Pilot Initiative, supported by the World Health Organization, seeks to strengthen community-based surveillance and early detection of cholera cases, improve preparedness planning at the community, district and provincial levels, and enhance coordination among stakeholders.
George Sinyangwe, permanent secretary for donor coordination at the Ministry of Health, said during the launch in Lusaka, the country's capital, that Zambia was honored to be selected to pilot the initiative, and it is a testament to partners' confidence in the country's leadership and commitment to public health preparedness.
"We are optimistic that the lessons generated through this initiative will inform the development of a model that can be adapted and implemented across the African region to strengthen community preparedness and resilience," he said.
Sinyangwe said the initiative aligns with the government's commitment to building resilient health systems, strengthening healthcare, enhancing emergency preparedness, and achieving national and global health security goals.
He said the initiative places particular emphasis on strengthening the capacity of frontline responders, especially community health workers.
Cholera continues to pose a significant public health challenge in Zambia and across the southern African region, Sinyangwe said, adding that recent outbreaks have demonstrated that effective prevention and control require action beyond the health sector.
On July 16, Zambia declared the end of its latest cholera outbreak that claimed 26 deaths across 25 affected districts.
