Nsanje DHO geared to fight cholera
Nsanje District Health Office (DHO) says it has put in place measures to avert any possible outbreak of cholera in the district this rainy season.
In the 2015/16 rainy season, the district registered 42 cases of cholera.
Nsanje district health officer Alexander Chijuwa said in an interview at the weekend they have rolled out rapid diagnostic testing in all health facilities administering oral cholera vaccine.
He said: “The office is also in door-to-door distribution of chlorine and promotion of good hygienic practices among people as we all know sanitation is key to prevention of cholera.”
He also said that with support from partners such as Diarrhoea Intervention Vaccine Institute and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), his office is screening people in cross- border areas and training medical personnel to build their capacity.
Chairperson for the health advisory committee (HAC), Henry Zongoloti, said they have conducted 10 sensitisation meetings at group village level aimed at promoting hygiene among people and encouraging them to seek medical attention whenever they notice strange symptoms.
“We are glad that all our health facilities have enough supply of cholera drugs. What we are doing now is bring awareness messages to the people on the importance of seeking medical attention when they are sick,” he said.
As for end September this year, the Ministry of Health confirmed 1 786 cholera cases, with 58 registered deaths since December 19 last year when an outbreak was declared in 14 districts in the country. n
