UN appeals for K46.9bn cholera response

The United Nations (UN) and other humanitarian partners have launched a Flash Appeal to raise $45.3 million (about K46.93 billion) to assist four million people in the country hardest hit by the cholera outbreak.

In a statement released yesterday, UN resident coordinator Rebecca Adda-Dontoh said the situation remains dire with 45 784 cases and 1 468 deaths by Sunday, representing a case fatality rate of 3.21 percent.

She said: “Despite all the efforts taken since the first cholera case was reported in Malawi nearly one year ago, the situation remains of grave concern. Every day, the number of cases increases, and more people die.

“However, the good news is that, while cholera is highly transmissible, it is also easily treatable when cases are caught early and preventable when communities have access to clean water and good sanitation.”

Adda-Dontoh said the aim of the appeal is to ease the cholera situation through an integrated response that brings together health and water, sanitation and hygiene, while ensuring that communities are engaged, prepared and supported to respond to and reduce cholera.

While acknowledging that the outbreak has taken a devastating toll on the hardest-hit communities, she said the appeal also calls for support to essential health, nutrition, education and protection services in affected and high-risk locations.

“When left untreated, cholera can kill in less than 12 hours, but with simple IV [intravenous] fluids, most patients are rapidly on the road to recovery. No one should die of cholera in 2023 and the world can, and must, step-up to help Malawians in their time of need,” said Adda-Dontoh.

The UN said unless urgent and intensified action is taken to scale-up the response, between 64 000 and 100 000 cases could be reported in the next three months.

The Flash Appeal coincides with government’s Thithetse Kolera Campaign President Lazarus Chakwera launched last week Monday in Lilongwe.

Speaking at the launch, the President said the campaign was aimed at ensuring that everyone across the country gets the message about how to prevent and contain the killer disease. As of yesterday, 1 478 people have died from cholera while 45 784 have been affected since the first case was recorded in March 2022.