Schools remain closed in Zambia due to cholera outbreak

After the joyous holidays, Zambian schools will be closed for an extra three weeks, delaying the start of the school year.

Primary and secondary students will now resume classes on January 29 instead of Monday, as announced by the Ministry of Education on Thursday.

The cholera outbreak started in October 2023 and has since resulted in 3,015 confirmed cases and 98 fatalities, according to a report released on Sunday by the Ministry of Health in Zambia. The concerning state of affairs raised questions regarding the country's "health security," as the Ministry of Health had warned in an earlier alert.

The minister of education in Zambia has issued instructions to guarantee the security of both staff and students upon their return. The minister underlined the necessity of disinfectants being available, installing sufficient handwashing stations, providing clean water and sanitation facilities, and thoroughly cleaning all educational facilities.

The goal of this proactive strategy is to reduce the possibility of additional cholera transmission in educational environments while putting the health and welfare of the student body first. 

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