By CHUSA SICHONE –
CHOLERA patients running away from treatment centres are on the verge of being prosecuted because they are a danger to themselves and society, the Ministry of Health has warned.
Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Kennedy Malama said Lusaka had also recorded cases of cholera patients absconding from treatment as was in Siavonga recently and the culprits would face the wrath of the law.
Dr Malama said in an interview in Lusaka on Tuesday that the Public Health Act and Statutory Instrument Number of 79 of 2017 were clear on how to manage infectious diseases that posed a threat to other people and the punishment to those that abrogated the law.
Dr Malama said when someone was diagnosed with an infectious disease, they were in the hands of the Government whose interest was to protect the health of the broader citizenry beyond one person.
“As the health sector we get very saddened to receive reports of people attempting to run away, abscond or just disappear. It’s not only the Siavonga incident, even here in Lusaka we had patients who actually absconded.
Dr Malama said the punishment to those that abrogated the law such as running away from confinement while receiving treatment ranged from imprisonment to a fine and described that act selfish and dangerous that would not be condoned.
He said cholera was not a playing matter and thus he appealed to the public to be compliant and adhere to the key messages and instructions, adding that the disease could be stopped through team work.
Meanwhile, Dr Malama was happy to note that no health personnel had contracted cholera since the disease was first reported on October 6, 2017.
He attributed the status quo to the health workers attending to cholera patients being provided with appropriate protective equipment.
Dr Malama also assured that there was nothing sinister about the oral cholera vaccination as it was safe, life-saving and effective as it had been used before.
He, however, said that the vaccination should go with people accessing clean drinking water, improved sanitation, and hygiene as well as food safety.