Ministry in cholera awareness campaign

Ministry of National Unity director of civic education Misheck Munthali has urged communities in Tukombo, Traditional Authority Zilakoma in Nkhata Bay District,to follow cholera preventive measures.

The district has cumulatively registered 1 375 cholera cases with 38 deaths since August this year. However, Tukombo, one of the hotspots in the district, has registered 627 cases.

Speaking on Monday at Tukombo during a cholera awareness campaign and recording of Malawi Wanga Programme, Munthali said it was sad to learn that cholera cases were still on the rise in the country.

“Lack of potable water and proper use of toilets are some of the contributing factors to the outbreak. Let us strive to have toilets and use them properly,” he said.

T/A Zilakoma said the area has three boreholes against a population of 2 750 households.

“Many people do not have access to potable water, which is partly to blame for the spread of the cholera outbreak,” he said.

The chief said besides shortage of potable water, the area does not have adequate pit latrines.

“I appealed to non-governmental organisations and government to drill boreholes and rehabilitate those in poor conditions in the area,” said Zilakoma.

In his response, Munthali said he was optimistic that government will drill the boreholes in the area.

Nkhata Bay district medical officer Joel Mtonga appealed for mindset change among communities to curb the spread of cholera.

“We will continue to raise awareness on preventive measures and ask people to come up with their own solutions,” he said.

According to the Ministry of Health, major factors associated with cholera outbreak in communities is poor food hygiene, lack of safe water and low usage of latrines.