The cholera cases and fatalities as announced by Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda show that Malawi is in a serious war with this disease. According Kandodo, the country in the past 24 hours recorded 551 new cases adding that 16 people have died of the disease in the said period.
In her statement, Kandodo said 825 people have since died since the outbreak of the disease with 24,884 people affected. According to the Health Minister, all 29 Health Districts of the country have reported cholera cases since the confirmation of the first case in March 2022 in Machinga district.
“I would like to request everyone in the country to take up a role to reduce the further spread of the outbreak in the country. Strict adherence to the preventive and control measures by all of us can bring the outbreak to a halt,” Chiponda said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister for water and sanitation John Bande has directed Mangochi municipal council to immediately transfer the waste dumping site from St. Augustin 3 primary school.
A visit to the school revealed that there was an unhygienic water source, compounded with waste.
“We can’t have learners here, in the wake of the cholera epidemic, this has to change forthwith,” charged Bande.
Bande has since directed Southern Region Water Board to provide safe and potable water at the school.
Both Mangochi Municipal Mayor Imam Chisuse and director of education youth and sports, Rabson Kawalala have promised to act as directed.
The government recently appealed for support from stakeholders to fight the disease and in making a case for the late opening of schools in Blantyre and Lilongwe, Kandodo said they have put in place measures to ensure robust sanitation in the two cholera hard hit cities.
