K1.7bn for cholera control
UK Aid through the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) has given Malawi $2.3 million (about K1.7 billion) for cholera preparedness, prevention and control activities in districts bordering Mozambique.
The announcement of the funding follows a cholera outbreak in Mozambique that spread to Malawi’s border districts.
In a statement, Unicef said it has provided assistance to Chikwawa and Nsanje districts where 18 cases of cholera have been recorded and health workers are fighting to contain the outbreak.
The districts are already under pressure having been among the worst hit by floods and El Nino in the past two years, forcing communities to use water from unprotected sources.
Unicef deputy country representative Roisin De Burca said the cholera fight has been extended to Mwanza, Neno and Dedza following an imminent threat of another outbreak in the three districts.
She said the funds will support government preparations, prepositioning of supplies, case management, capacity building of health staff and purchasing medical and other suppliers.
Said De Burca: “We must all work together and act quickly with strong coordination across the health and Wash [Water and Sanitation Hygiene] clusters to ensure that the disease does not claim lives, especially those who are most vulnerable—the children.”
She pointed out that Unicef’s priority is to identify cholera cases and stop its spread.
Unicef has provided medical and other supplies to Chikwawa and Nsanje to support the Ministry of Health response to a cholera outbreak in the area that threatens to spread to other districts bordering Mozambique.
Under the Unicef initiative, about 8 000 households have so far been assisted with supplies such as chlorine for water treatment, Waterguard for household and community water treatment, and water collection and storage containers.
Unicef and Ministry of Health have been preparing for this eventuality since November last year.
