The Malawi Prison Service (MPS) is taking proactive measures to prevent the spread of cholera within its facilities, despite not registering any cases or having any suspects.
According to Steve Meke, MPS’s Public Relations Officer, the service is enforcing hygiene practices such as hand washing with soap, sanitation, and proper waste disposal to create a cholera-free environment.
“Some of the hygiene practices include hand washing with soap, sanitation by making sure that our toilets within the prisons are clean, and even disposal of wastes is well taken care of and the same time access to clean and portable water as well as food safety,” he said.
Meke added that the service has sufficient facilities to implement these measures but collaborates with the Ministry of Health through district health offices when needed.
He also highlighted the crucial role of inmate health workers, who are trained to spread awareness about cholera and other diseases to their fellow inmates.
“Our health workers within the prison, these are inmates who have been trained to bring awareness of different diseases to their fellow inmates, continue to pass on the messages about cholera and indeed other diseases to the inmates so that they stay updated on different health issues,” Meke said.
The Malawi Prison Service is working to prevent the spread of cholera in prisons across the country.
