Red Cross outlines cholera interventions

Malawi Red Cross Society has outlined cholera interventions to be implemented in Nkhotakota to contain the outbreak in the district.

Speaking in an interview on Saturday, Malawi Red Cross Society Nkhotakota district coordinator Gracian Phiri said they have sourced K37 million from the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for the interventions.

He said: “We will implement activities in health risk communication and community engagement as well as water, sanitation and hygiene.

“We will also conduct trainings and buy materials to support the fight against the outbreak.”

Phiri said they plan to reach 188 869 people in the district by January 2023.

“We want to increase awareness, prevention and control of the outbreak,” he said.

Nkhotakota district health promotion officer Garry Chilinga said as of Sunday, the district had registered 703 cummulative cholera cases and 35 deaths.

He said currently 43 cholera patients are being treated as in-patients.

Despite being the dry season, the country is facing a cholera outbreak.

 According to the Ministry of Health statement issued on Thursday, the major causes of the outbreak in communities is associated with poor food hygiene, lack of safe water and low latrine coverage and usage.

Speaking on Thursday when she visited Karonga District Hospital, Minister of Health Khumbize-Kandodo Chiponda said government will roll out a cholera vaccination campaign to contain the outbreak in the country.

She said: “We are sourcing two million doses of cholera vaccines that we expect to be in the country in two weeks.

“We will prioritise lakeshore districts which are the hardest hit areas. We have also bought intravenous fluids worth K200 million to be distributed to hospitals together with chlorine.”