Lilongwe-based Hip-hop artist, Chrispin Semu, popularly known as Same Cris has tackled the emerging Cholera outbreak in his recently released song titled “Cholera”.
In an interview on Monday, the rapper said he decided to hatch the song in an attempt to raise public awareness of preventive measures for the disease.
Cris said Cholera is real and is claiming a lot of lives, hence the need for everyone always to adhere to the preventive measures thereby curbing the spread of the disease.
“I do care for the nation. It is my duty as an artist to use my talent to reach out to the masses with such massages in an attempt to save lives at the end of the day,” Cris said.
He further advises his fans and the public at large to observe sanitation and hygiene practices, such as hand washing at all critical times.
“Watch hands before eating (Samba m’manja usanayambe kudya), boil before you eat (chitenthese usanayambe kudya), cover the food when going out (vindikila ukamachokapo) and don’t eat anyhow this is Cholera (zakudyazi osamangodyapo, ndi cholera tu uyu, iwe amapha tu uyu, ndi Cholera tu uyu, iwe amapha tu uyu,” the chorus goes so.
The song which is in both audio and video forms was released on January 6 and is pulling numerous views on YouTube and is also being played on different television stations across the country.
On his part, Public Health Practitioner, Gift Banda has commended Cris for tackling Cholera through music.
Banda said music is an important tool in public health promotion as it has the ability to reach out to the masses including those in hard-to-reach areas.
“In times of outbreaks, such as Cholera which has currently affected all districts across the country, music can help in raising awareness on how it can be prevented and contained. In this case, Cris has done a commendable job,” Banda said.
He further urged the general public against compromising sanitation and hygiene practices considering that Cholera is a sanitation and hygiene-related disease.