K130m to fight cholera
Mzimba North District Health Office (DHO) says it needs about K130 million for community awareness and resources such as medical supplies in case of a cholera outbreak.
The preparedness comes after the neighbouring Nkhata Bay District has registered 330 cholera cases.
In an interview on Monday, Mzimba North DHO spokesperson Lovemore Kawayi said although the district is yet to register a cholera case, Nkhata Bay is just about 45 kilometres from Mzuzu City, which puts Mzimba at high risk of the outbreak.
He said: “As you may be aware, Karonga and Nkhotakota districts have registered cholera cases and it is suspected that some of those infected might have visited Nkhata Bay recently.
“We have secured a room at St John’s Hospital to be used as an isolation centre, but we still need resources such as tents, beds, blankets and medical supplies, among others, and these are estimated to cost K130 million.”
Mzimba North director of health and social services Prince Chirwa called for collaboration among various stakeholders, including community members to promote good hygiene and sanitation practices.
“As a district where Mzuzu City is part of, we are at a high risk, but we can prevent the spread of the disease if we cooperate.
“Mzuzu City has not registered a cholera case in the last 10 years, so let us maintain the cholera free status,” he said.
Malawi first registered a cholera case at Machinga District Hospital in March this year. Since then, the disease has spread to other 11 districts, with Nkhata Bay in the Northern Region and Nkhotakota in the Central Region being the latest.
In April this year, Ministry of Health conducted a cholera vaccination exercise in eight districts of the Southern Region to contain the spread of the outbreak.
