STORY: WHO provides 1.4 mln doses of oral cholera vaccine to Zambia
SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 15, 2024
DATELINE: Jan. 16, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:24
LOCATION: Lusaka
CATEGORY: HEALTH

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the handover
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): SYLVIA MASEBO, Zambian Health Minister
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): CISSY BYENKYA, the Acting United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator

STORYLINE:

Zambia on Monday received the first batch of 1.4 million doses of oral cholera vaccine to be administered to people in cholera hotspots in the country.

The vaccines will be administered to eligible people aged one and above in selected high-risk areas in Lusaka, the country's capital, which was the epicenter of the current outbreak.

The vaccine is part of the 1.7 million doses pledged by the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

Minister of Health Sylvia Masebo said the other batch will soon arrive in the country, and the vaccine will be given to people in cholera-prone areas.

She said the government will not conduct mass vaccinations but will conduct targeted vaccinations due to the limited vaccines available, adding that each person will be given one dose, unlike the recommended two doses, so as to cater to more people.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): SYLVIA MASEBO, Zambian Health Minister
"The vaccines we have received are not adequate for a countrywide non-selective response. Therefore, they will be deployed in a phased manner in targeted high-risk areas for us to achieve impact in controlling transmission, illness and death from cholera".

The minister thanked the cooperating partners that have worked with her ministry to secure the vaccines and other resources necessary for the fight against cholera.

Cissy Byenkya, the acting UN resident coordinator, said the successful implementation of the vaccine program was key in addressing the waterborne disease.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): CISSY BYENKYA, Acting United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator
"The UN is committed to supporting Zambia get through this Cholera crisis. Today as the United Nations with support from WHO and UNICEF, we are handing over part of the 1.4 million doses of the oral cholera vaccine, which arrived in the country yesterday. As we do so, we note that there is a need for long-term solutions such as ensuring proper hygiene and provision of safe water and adequate sanitation in communities. We need to address the root causes of why it keeps reoccurring".

She said the UN family in Zambia will continue to support the country in the ongoing efforts to contain the disease, adding that the support was being provided in many areas, such as the provision of volunteers, distribution of chlorine and oral rehydration solutions as well as technical support.
   
She, however, said the UN family was concerned that the current outbreak was more severe compared to previous outbreaks with more cases and deaths.

The UN official further expressed concern that most of the affected people were young.

The southern African nation has been battling cholera since the waterborne disease broke out in October last year, with 45 out of 160 districts being affected.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Lusaka.
(XHTV)