Lilongwe DHO admits Covid-19 response hitches

Lilongwe District Health Office (DHO) has admitted facing challenges in its Covid-19 pandemic response, including contact tracing and case management as new registered cases keep rising.

This came to light on Thursday when Water Mission Malawi, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), engaged Lilongwe DHO officials on Covid-19 response, especially in rural communities.

Lilongwe District director of health and social services Alinafe Mbewe said the capital city is a Covid-19 hot spot.

But she said despite doing contact tracing and surveillance on Covid-19 cases, the task remains challenging. 

Mbewe said: “When people enter the city, health officials send us their particulars for follow-up.

“But sometimes people give fake numbers or change them and when you call, you can’t trace them.”

She hailed Water Mission Malawi for its support, saying the DHO and its partners are conducting civic education and related campaign for community members.

Water Mission Malawi country director Nixon Sinyiza said they provide Covid-19 hand-washing facilities and conduct civic education for community members.

Water Mission Malawi implements community centred water treatment projects using solar technologies and  develops, equips and shares water solutions in communities to enhance water, sanitation and hygiene (Wash) interventions.

Water Mission Malawi, with funding from Poul Due Jensen Foundation, is running a Covid-19 national response programme to the tune of K110 million.

As of yesterday, the country had registered 749 Covid-19 positive cases with 11 deaths.