Pink eye disease cases rise, hit schools, prisons

Pink eye disease continues to spread across the country and has now affected 3 570 students while cumulative cases as of yesterday are pegged at 6 768 in 23 districts.

Ministry of Health said since the first case  of the viral conjuctivitis was confirmed on January 31 2024, Karonga District has the most cases at 2 867 followed by Lilongwe with 1 384.

Data shows that prisons have recorded 1119 cases.

Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva in the eye and its most common causes are viral, allergic and bacterial. A majority of cases are caused by a virus.

Ministry of Education spokesperson Mphatso Mkuonera on Wednesday confirmed the rising cases in schools.

However, he said the ministry has scaled up sensitisation of teachers and learners on prevention measures of the disease.

Prison Services spokesperson Mwai Shaba said three prisons, namely Maula in Lilongwe, Mangochi and Karonga have been affected.

He said: “At Maula, we have 1 056 cases, which is a third of the population of inmates. This figure also includes three female officers and three dependants. We have 98 cases in Mangochi and 45 in Karonga. We continue to promote hygiene.

“We have been given buckets for use, but also gentamicin anointing oil but we require more.”

Karonga District Health Office said 11 people have lost vision due to continued use of herbs and urine to get rid of the virus.

Meanwhile, Society of Medical Doctors in Malawi president Victor Mithi has called increased awareness, especially with events in Karonga.

“The way forward should involve general hygiene practices, and encouraging people to get help from hospitals so as to avoid what has happened in Karonga where eight people have gone blind,” he said.

Mithi’s sentiments on sensitisation are shared by health rights activists who have called on government to increase awareness for viral conjunctivitis disease.

In an interview yesterday, Malawi Health Equity Network executive director George Jobe said there is not much being done in terms of awareness of the disease.

He said media houses  and other platforms should by now have been flooded with messages on pink eye disease.

On his part, Health Rights Education Programme executive director Maziko Matemba said for the disease to spread to 23 districts in a short period means there is poor awareness.

Ministry of Health spokesperson Adrian Chikumbe admitted that there has not been much in terms of awareness.

He said the ministry has been struggling with other interventions such as fighting cholera.

However, Chikumbe said preventing or fighting pink eye is about promoting hygiene, avoiding handshakes, sharing spectacles, towels and other facial items.

The disease is transmitted through contact with an infected person or contaminated objects. The disease causes itching of the eyes tempting one to scratch or touch the eyes.

Signs and symptoms include pink or red colour in the white part of the eye, swelling of the conjunctiva or eye lining, increased tear production, itching, eye discharge, painful eye and visual disturbance.