Draw lessons from choleraoutbreak, ministry told
Health experts have urged authorities to draw lessons from the outbreak and work on shortfalls that contributed to its rapid spread.
This season’s outbreak, which has become the worst ever, reached its peak in November and December killing almost 30 people a day and infecting on average 500 a day.
However, recent statistics from the Ministry of Health have shown a drastic drop with 506 cases and 15 deaths registered in 14 days, translating to an average of 36 cases and one death a day.
Experts say stakeholders should reflect and draw lessons from the pandemic by, among others, continuously sensitising the masses on prevention and care as well as continuing investment in water, sanitation and hygiene (Wash).
An education expert Benedicto Kondowe, who heads Civil Society Education Coalition, said the country needs a long term plan for a robust and effective implementation of Wash programmes in schools.
He said: We need sustainable financing of Wash activities in the national budget, better coordination and partnerships between different ministries, departments and agencies, donors, private sector, NGOs and community structure as well as continuous capacity building of schools and school governance structures with Wash information and support.”
Health expert Maziko Matemba said it is encouraging that even after Cyclone Freddy, the number of cases continues to go down.
He attributed the positive results to the Tithetse Kolera (End Cholera) campaign launched in February this year, collaboration between the ministries of Health and Water and Sanitation as well as the support from donors.
“However, we are not safe yet. We have to find mechanisms of making sure that communities are able to observe sanitation fully. Government should always be alert. It’s a lesson and we have a long way to go.
“We have seen a budget from the Ministry of Water and Sanitation and indeed if we want to win the battle completely, the resources that have been promised should be made available,” said Matemba.
Malawi Health Equity Network executive director George Jobe said the country must document lessons learnt in the outbreak.
“There should also be identification of common practices and behaviours that cut across several diseases.
“Hygiene, safe water and good sanitation have proven to be pivotal in our public health. These conditions, if improved and continue to receive attention, will enable us to prevent not only cholera but also fight Covid-19, scabies and typhoid fever,” he said.
Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda described the continued reduction in cholera cases as encouraging, but she urged the public to continue adhering to preventive measures if the nation is to contain the outbreak.
As of Monday, the country has recorded 58 415 cases and 1 755 deaths since the onset of the outbreak in March 2022, making it the largest outbreak since October 2001.
