FLUSHING OUT CHOLERA

On 21 April 2026, Zambia Red Cross Society (ZRCS) led a targeted cholera response in Lusaka’s Kanyama and Chawama compounds, reaching 1,000 households identified by the Ministry of Health as high-risk.
ZRCS supported Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company in implementing fecal sludge management activities at household level, with funding from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The support focused on improving the safe handling, disposal, and management of human waste, including fecal matter, to reduce cholera transmission.

Using the Case Area Targeted Intervention (CATI) approach, response teams acted swiftly in high-risk areas by targeting households surrounding reported cholera cases. The approach focuses on rapid, localized action, helping communities strengthen sanitation practices and interrupt the spread of infection at its source.

In densely populated communities like Kanyama and Chawama, where poor sanitation can accelerate outbreaks, this focused response helped reduce cholera cases and protect lives, reinforcing the importance of tackling sanitation where people live.