LUSAKA, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Zambia on Friday launched an oral cholera vaccination campaign targeting Lusaka, the capital and epicenter of the current outbreak, alongside Chibombo District in the country's Central Province.
More than 500,000 vaccine doses are expected to be allocated to the two districts in the first phase of the campaign, with another 480,000 doses arriving soon for distribution to other affected areas.
Speaking at the launch, Minister of Health Roma Chilengi said the targeted campaign aims to protect people in the hardest-hit areas while making efficient use of limited global vaccine supplies.
He emphasized the government's commitment to ending cholera as a public health threat and thanked cooperating partners and the private sector for supporting the delivery of essential medical services to affected families.
Chilengi noted that the outbreak has spread to 12 districts across five provinces.
The country has recorded 966 cumulative cholera cases, including 43 new cases in the past 24 hours, with 25 deaths, the minister added.
