The Ministry of Health says it has re-strategized cholera control activities and has revised cholera response plan to ensure that the current Cholera outbreak is controlled in the country especially as we move into the rainy season.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda yesterday in Parliament.
According to Chiponda, the leadership of the Government and the Ministry of Health is closely monitoring the cholera situation in the country and is dedicated in making sure that the outbreak is brought under control. She added that there are also coordination and stakeholder meetings at Central and District Levels.
“Apart from static and permanent health centers, the Ministry has established treatment centers close to where cholera patients are coming from. The idea is to treat cholera patients at source in order to minimize movement of cholera patients hence minimizing spreading of cholera. This is one of the areas where we need more support,” explained Chiponda.
Chiponda also hinted that her Ministry through the Health Education Section Services both at National and District levels, is continuously sending health promotion messages to the public on how diseases including ( cholera) are caused and how they can be prevented.
These Cholera prevention and control messages are being sent through different channels including the mainstream media (radio, TV and Newspapers), social media platforms, community sensitization and engagement session and through posters and leaflets.
According to Chiponda, her Ministry through the Epidemiology Unit at the Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM) in collaboration with the districts has also intensified surveillance on cholera and all diarrheal diseases.
She said all districts submit cholera reports on a daily basis, even those without cholera cases are doing “zero reporting”. The Ministry of Health has capacity to confirm cholera cases.
She further said that the ministry through Health Surveillance Assistants, continues to do water chlorination in the communities where there is no safe drinking water in order to prevent diseases like Cholera.
“The Ministry through Environmental Health Section has also promoted household water treatment with Chlorine solution through use of Chlorine dispensers installed at boreholes. We started this initiative with support from an Organization called Evidence Action in the districts of Zomba, Blantyre, Mangochi and Balaka,” explained Chiponda.
The Minister has therefore called for concerted efforts in the fight against cholera and she has also appealed to people to stay at home during the festive season, saying going to the Lake would only worsen the situation as Lakeshore districts have been heavily affected.
Up to date, the country has registered over 8,000 cases of Cholera and 262 deaths.
