Mzimba North DHO refutes new cholera threat claims

Mzimba North District Health Office (DHO) has dismissed reports that there is a new cholera threat in Mzuzu City.

Speaking on Thursday during a joint Mzuzu City Executive Committee and Mzimba North District Executive Committee meeting, Mzimba North DHO spokesperson Lovemore Kawayi said his office has not recorded new cholera cases.

His response follows a social media post by Chibavi West Ward councillor Gabriel Mwaungulu who alleged on his Facebook post that seven cholera cases were recently registered in his ward.

Said Kawayi: “As of this morning, there are no new cases which we are aware of and none of our facilities has reported on the same.

“Our request, however, is that if there happens to be a suspected case somewhere, let us rush such cases to a nearest health facility so that they can get necessary treatment.”

Mwaungulu, who claimed that authorities are hiding that such cases have been registered, was however not present during the meeting, which was a first stakeholder engagement under the Tithetse Kolera Campaign launched by President Lazarus Chakwera last month in Lilongwe.

Mzuzu City Council acting director of health and social services Mabvuto Lupwayi said the council is still facing hiccups in controlling the sale of cooked foodstuffs.

“We have been frequently inspecting restaurants to ensure that they observe hygiene. However, our biggest challenge is the sale of already cooked food,” he said.

Lupwayi said it was sad to note that people shun good restaurants and opt to buy food from unsafe selling points.