Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Donor Coordination, George Sinyagngwe, says the country cannot afford to lose its citizens to easily preventable diseases as was seen in the last Cholera outbreak.
Dr. Sinyangwe said this during the handover of water tanks and dosing pumps, donated by the USAID Zambia Mission.
The Permanent Secretary who also commended the USAID mission in Zambia for the gesture said disease outbreaks such as Covid-19 and Cholera continue to teach everyone the importance of being proactive in deploying prevention measures, rather than having to deal with the consequences.
The PS reiterated Government’s commitment to ensuring that the country does not have a reoccurrence preventable disease.
And Dr. Sinyangwe emphasized that individual responsibility is key to disease prevention, not just for Cholera but any other diseases.
He further acknowledged that the Zambian Government is thankful to the U.S Government for its unwavering partnership in the health sector.
Meanwhile, Dr. Sinyangwe stated that the donated water tanks will go a long way in supporting the health institutions in terms of storing and supplying clean and safe water in various communities.
And USAID Acting Mission Director, Robin Sharma, says the Organization’s activities in the water sector in Zambia, are guided by the U.S. Global Water strategy 2022-2027.
Mr. Sharma said the USAID designated Zambia as a water high priority country, as the U.S. Government is committed to significant investment to improve the delivery of water, sanitation and hygiene services for the benefit of Zambian communities.
He revealed that the investment in the 50 heavy duty water tanks that have been handed over to the Ministry of Health, is meant to improve access to clean and safe water for communities and in so doing contribute to preventing diarrheal diseases that frequently cause a needless loss of lives, as seen during the Cholera outbreak earlier in the year.
Mr. Sharma said this gesture by USAID is an additional to other investments the organization across the country.
He said through the USAID Scaling up Nutrition, Technical Assistance (SUN TA) project and its community and Government partners in 13 Districts across Central, Copperbelt, Northern and Luapula provinces, USAID will by the end of June this year, deliver 300 new boreholes and rehabilitate 700 others, thereby providing clean and safe water to over 406,000 people.
Mr. Sharma further affirmed the U.S Government’s commitment to working with the Zambian Government in improving the delivery of Water, Sanitation, and hygiene services.
