17 HSAs test positive for Covid-19 in Mchinji

Seventeen health surveillance assistants (HSAs) in Mchinji have tested positive for Covid-19.

Mchinji district director of health and social services Juliana Kanyengambeta confirmed in an interview on yesterday. 

However, she said some of the HSAs are out of their self-isolation.

“Our health care workers see more than 50 people each day and this puts them at a higher risk of contracting the virus,” she said.

Kanyengambeta has been asking well-wishers to help Mchinji District Health Office with Covid-19 personal protective equipment.

In a separate interview, Mchinji district commissioner Peter Jimusole said the rise in Covid-19 cases in the district was worrisome.

“The situation has called for more preventive measures to contain the spread of the virus,” he said.

Jimusole said chances were high that numbers could increase in the border district since some people use uncharted routes to enter the country.

As a precautionary measure, health officials are screening people entering the country through Mchinji Border Post.

In April, Mchinji District Council officials went to Chipata in Zambia where the Malawi delegation discussed with their counterparts on how to enforce Covid-19 preventive measures along the border.

A week later, Chipata Municipal Council disinfected Mchinji District Council buildings.  

In May this year, Ministry of Health opened a Covid-19 testing site in the district. 

Meanwhile, Malawi Red Cross Society is conducting Covid-19 awareness in the district using a door-to-door approach and public address system with a big screen mounted on cars. 

The district has registered 45 Covid-19 cases.