Lusaka province prone to communicable, non-communicable diseases

Lusaka Province permanent secretary Wamunyima Muwana has called for concerted efforts to control and prevent communicable and non-communicable diseases in the province.

Mr Muwana said Lusaka province remains prone to communicable and non-communicable potential epidemics.

Mr Muwana said this in a speech read on his behalf by Lusaka province deputy permanent secretary Bright Nundwe during a provincial epidemics preparedness prevention, control and management meeting in Lusaka today.

ZANIS reports that Mr Muwana disclosed that the province has continued to record high number of Trypaniomiasis cases in Rufunsa District, and increased cases of Malaria in Chongwe and Luangwa districts.

The Permanent Secretary bemoaned the increase in non-bloody diarrhoea as well as an all year presence of typhoid and dysentery in Lusaka province.

He raised concern about the HIV/AIDS infections that have remained relatively high despite recording a reduction.

Mr Muwana expressed concern that the province has continued to record high maternal deaths with 142 deaths reported in 2014.

And Lusaka Provincial Medical Officer Dr Kennedy Malama disclosed that his office has heightened efforts to prevent an outbreak of cholera and other communicable and non-communicable diseases in the capital city and surrounding towns.

Dr Malama appealed to Lusaka residents to ensure that they practice basic rules of hygiene to prevent diarrhoeal diseases especially during the rain season.