Cholera interventions impress health ministry

Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda has expressed satisfaction with Nsanje District Council’s interventions to contain the further outbreak of cholera.

The minister expressed the sentiments on Friday when she toured the district to appreciate the progress of the fight against the disease.

“We appreciate the council’s efforts in engaging communities on how to prevent the disease and the distribution of chlorine to treat drinking water,” said Chiponda.

She said the ministry is discussing with stakeholders on when to start administering the second phase of cholera vaccines.

Said Chiponda: “Nsanje is one of the districts hit hard by cholera as it has registered over 300 cases and 13 deaths.

“However, cholera is a preventable disease and the council should just intensify interventions.”

She also commended the district for vaccinating 89 percent of the targeted population during the first phase of the campaign.

Nsanje district director of health and social services Gilbert Chapweteka said there is need for collaboration to win the fight against the disease.

“We need to follow up on patients, administering cholera vaccines and enforce hygiene and sanitation initiatives to contain the spread of the disease,” he said.

Chapweteka called for collaboration between Mozambique and Malawi in managing outbreaks since the first cases of cholera  in the district were imported from Mozambique.

World Health Organisation representative Neema Rusibamayila Kimambo said the country has this year registered more cholera deaths than expected.

She said: “It is usually expected that deaths should be one percent of the cases, but in Malawi we have an average of 4.77 percent.

“This shows that more people have died than expected and this can be attributed to poor quality care at health facility, poor community knowledge or people coming late to hospital for treatment.’’