Practise hygiene to contain cholera—chief

Senior Chief Kalonga of Karonga District has urged community members and market users to practise hygiene and follow other preventive measures to contain cholera.

He said this on Wednesday during a clean-up exercise that Karonga District Council organised as one way of ensuring cleanliness in markets to prevent the further spread of cholera.

“Cholera spreads because of unhygienic conditions in markets and homes. I urge people to practise hygiene and keep their surroundings clean,” said the chief.

Kalonga also asked people in the district to construct toilets and use them properly.

“In addition, people should not use water from unprotected sources such as wells and rivers,” he said.

Karonga Main Market chairperson Goodwin Ghambi commended the council for the initiative, saying the exercise sent a strong message to market users on the importance of observing good waste management.

“The council has set the ball rolling. Now, we will follow the example in observing cleanliness,” he said.

On his part, Karonga district health environmental officer Lewis Tukula said the exercise is one of the ways his office is using to fight cholera in the district.

“Some of the interventions include using public address systems mounted on vehicles and drama performances in communities,” he said.

Tukula said the clean-up exercise was part of the Tithetse Kolera Campaign launched by President Lazarus Chakwera in Lilongwe in February this year.

He thanked the Ministry of Water and Sanitation for providing materials for the clean-up exercise.

Caroline Mayuni, a community member from Traditional Authority Wasambo, which was one of the cholera hotspots in the district, said they will continue to practise personal hygiene to stay safe from the disease.

As of Wednesday, the district had cumulatively registered 975 cases and 25 deaths.