Red Cross supports cholera, anthrax fight

Malawi Red Cross Society has drilled extension workers in Mchinji District on how to respond to the cholera and anthrax outbreak in neighouring Zambia.

Speaking on Wednesday during the training, Red Cross director of programmes and development Prisca Chisala stressed the need to intensify preparedness.

We want to scale up preparedness because we do not want the country to be taken unawares. The district has to be prepared even if it has not registered cases,” she said.

Chisala commended Danish Red Cross for supporting the training.

Nynne Halkjaer, the Danish Red Cross health delegate, commended the comprehensive approach taken in orienting different sections on the outbreaks.

“The fact that there are no cases in Mchinji means the people and stakeholders are doing the right thing,” she said.

Mchinji district environmental health officer Rabson Kaira said the training involved extension workers from departments of Health, Animal Health and Wildlife along the border between Mchinji and Zambia.

He emphasised the importance of equipping frontline workers with adequate knowledge on anthrax and cholera.

“It is crucial for frontline workers to have more knowledge on anthrax and cholera that are wreaking havoc in neighbouring Zambia. We thank Red Cross for this partnership,” said Kaira.

The orientation conducted by Malawi Red Cross received support from the Danish Red Cross.

Cholera is a bacterial infection that causes severe diarrhoea and dehydration, often spread through contaminated food and water while anthrax is a serious bacterial infection that can affect both humans and animals, typically transmitted through contact with infected animals or their products. n