UNICEF supplies 1.6 million vaccines to Zambia

Zambia is set to receive 1.6 million doses of cholera vaccines as the country suffers one of its worst outbreaks.

More than 350 deaths and 9,000 infections have been recorded since the outbreak started in October last year.

The vaccines have been secured by Zambia’s government in collaboration with the World Health Organization and the UN’s children agency, UNICEF.

The vaccines will be officially received by the health ministry after arriving in the country late on Sunday.

The health ministry said on Sunday”, After this, the ministry will finalize the preparatory processes to begin community vaccinations in selected hotspots in Lusaka province,” citing Lusaka as the worst-hit province.

The outbreak has so far spread to nine out of Zambia’s 10 provinces. The vaccinations will target “people aged one year and above”, the ministry added.

Zambia has undertaken several measures to curb the ongoing outbreak, including delaying school reopening and limiting attendance at cholera victims’ funerals to five people.

The country’s biggest sports stadium, the National Heroes Stadium, has been repurposed to treat cholera patients. The government has also urged Zambians in towns to relocate to villages.