Disease scare grips flood victims as child dies

Flood victims in Chikwawa are living in fear following the death of a child on Sunday, a few days after some camps registered an outbreak of communicable diseases.

Chikwawa district commissioner (DC) Alex Mdooko confirmed the development in an interview this week, saying burial took place Monday.

But Mdooko could not commit himself on the actual cause of the death.

Some of the victims The Nation talked to last week suspect poor water, sanitation and hygiene conditions in the camp as a possible cause of the death.

One of the flood victims, Maria Tembo, while expressing gratitude for the food items, noted that government and the donors overlooked issues of water, sanitation and hygiene in their rescue efforts.

Tembo, a 28-year old lactating mother at Sammy’s Camp in Chikwawa, said waterborne diseases is the major worry among the campers after successfully escaping the wrath of floods.

Noel Bayela, one of Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) volunteers in Chikwawa, confirmed receiving reports of disease outbreaks in the camps, with scabies taking the toll due to the congestion.

He said the victims could also be at risk of contracting malaria, dysentery and cholera.

Mdooko said health workers were already on the ground to establish what might have caused his death.

Health rights activist, Martha Kwataine of the Malawi Health Equity Network (Mhen), said there is high likelihood of campers falling victims to waterborne diseases such as cholera due to congestion.

She suggested the introduction of mobile clinics to cater for the campers.