Zambia is amongst the long list of African countries facing the adversities of global climate change. The Cholera outbreak is the latest nation’s calamity, heavily linked to climate effects like lack of water and inadequate climate adaptation measures.
The third world country lacks climate finance to cater to sustainable development plans. Initiatives to mitigate climate change can help control the cholera outbreak, which has now claimed 400 individuals and affected over 10,000 people since October 2023.
Zambia’s decreased rainfall impacts people’s access to clean water, particularly in the western and southern regions. Additionally, the cholera outbreak has been exacerbated by storms and floods. The combined climatic factors have resulted in a 3% (to 4%) increase from the normal 1% cholera outbreak cases.
Luckily, the World Health Organization had intervened, offering 1.4 million vaccines. However, they might not be enough amid worsening climate change, exacerbating poverty levels, and inadequate climate mitigation measures.
Therefore, an immediate course of action is imminent in the rising danger. Children, the elderly, and women, especially pregnant and young mothers, are at a high risk if a solution isn’t implemented sooner.
The Zambian government through its environmental departments should create long-term preventive measures. This includes rehabilitation of waste areas and facilitating easy access to clean water for citizens under the poverty line.
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