Government Steps Up Ebola Preparedness

Vice President Mutale Nalumango has assured the nation that Government is on high alert and fully prepared to prevent the spread of Ebola into Zambia.

Delivering a National Address on ZNBC Television and Radio on Sunday Evening, Mrs Nalumango said a series of measures had already been put in place through the Zambia National Public Health Institute to guard against the disease crossing over from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The emphasis, she stressed, is on acting early and decisively rather than waiting for the threat to reach Zambian soil.

The Vice President revealed that testing systems are operational in laboratories across the country, allowing suspected cases to be identified and investigated quickly. Reassuringly, she confirmed that all recent tests on suspected cases had returned negative, meaning Zambia has yet to record a single confirmed case of Ebola.

Even so, Mrs Nalumango was clear that vigilance must not waver. She called for concerted, collective effort in the fight against the disease, stressing that preparedness is a responsibility shared by every Zambian, not Government alone.

To that end, she said authorities are working hand in hand with traditional leaders, religious leaders, and media organisations to raise public awareness and build stronger community resilience. By drawing on trusted voices within communities, Government hopes to ensure that accurate information reaches citizens quickly, helping to calm fears, counter misinformation, and keep families across the country safe and well informed.