Blantyre DHO rolls out emergency cholera vaccine

Following a surge in the cholera outbreak, the Blantyre District Health Office (DHO) has rolled out administration of the oral cholera vaccine.

The office said yesterday it has received 90 000 doses of the vaccine to be deployed to health centres in all hotspot areas in the district which has registered 1 130 cases and 44 deaths as of yesterday.

In a statement, Blantyre district director of health and social services Dr. Gift Kawalazira said nine areas of Bangwe, Chilomoni, Kachere, Limbe, Makhetha, Mbayani, Mtonda, South Lunzu and Zingwangwa are the hardest hit.

He said: “Members of the public are being encouraged to take the vaccine to prevent themselves and others from cholera disease. The vaccine can be accessed from the above listed health facilities or the community health workers around the listed facilities.

“The public is further reminded to exercise strict observance of good hygiene practices to protect themselves and others from the deadly disease.”

Kawalazira said most of the deaths are because patients are not presenting themselves to a health facility in time.

Blantyre is among the districts hardest hit by the outbreak which has, so far, affected and claimed 417 lives.

The DHO has since temporarily suspended other services at Makhetha clinic which it has turned into a cholera camp.

Blantyre DHO spokesperson Chrissy Banda said the decision was reached following an upsurge in cholera cases in the area, adding that other patients are being referred to the nearest health centres such as Limbe and South Lunzu.

“The huge rise in cases is a clear indication that there are issues of poor hygiene and sanitation in our communities. We urge those presenting with cholera symptoms to rush to the nearest health facility for treatment.”

Makhetha Clinic officer in charge Precious Kadzinje said they started treating cholera patients on November 29 and they have since recorded 84 cases and two deaths.

As of yesterday, 17 patients were admitted to the clinic with 15 others discharged around noon.

Bangwe Health Centre assistant environmental health officer Ernest Takomana said they are admitting over 20 patients a day and since March the clinic has admitted 496 patients and recorded 16 deaths.