Cholera overwhelms Likoma hospital
The raging cholera outbreak has reached Likoma Island, where the main hospital is operating without rapid test kits despite having 10 suspected cases.
National Statistical Office projects that there are about 10 500 people in the island district with one confirmed cholera case.
The cut-off population is at risk as St Peters Anglican Hospital has no capacity to swiftly diagnose the diarrheal disease which kills fast if not treated.
In an interview yesterday, Likoma district health officer David Sibale affirmed the Anglican hospital does not have the capacity to swiftly run cholera tests.
Presently, health workers on Likoma and Chizumulu have to wait for days as they have to send specimen to Mzuzu Central Hospital for laboratory tests.
“We need rapid tests to detect cholera. Without it, the hospital can only suspect that there are cases,” he said.
Six of the 10 suspected cases were treated as outpatients and three were admitted after tests in Mzuzu confirmed one had cholera.
“The suspected cases are from Ulisa and Jalo areas,” explained Sibale.
He asked the islanders to practise good hygiene to prevent the spread of the sanitation-related outbreak.
Likoma becomes the 10th district hit by the outbreak that has affected 347 people and killed five since last November.
Other affected districts are Lilongwe, Nkhata Bay, Kasungu, Salima, Dowa, Nsanje, Chikwawa, Mulanje and Karonga.
According to Ministry of Health spokesperson Joshua Malango, Karonga remains the worst hit having registered 223 cases. n
