Flaws in cholera fight

Authorities seem to be helpless in the fight against cholera as the outbreak is getting out of hand despite efforts to contain its spread.

On Sunday, the Ministry of Health registered 17 new cases, 11 from Blantyre, four from Neno and one each from Chikwawa and Nsanje, five more cases were registered in Blantyre on Monday bringing the total number to 165.

Cumulatively, Nsanje has recorded 89 cases, Neno 28, Blantyre 41, Machinga two and Chikwawa five.

Malawi Environmental Health Association president Elias Chimulambe in an interview on Tuesday attributed the continued increase of cases to lack of preparation by authorities, saying they did not do a good job when Nsanje was importing cases from Mozambique.

He expressed worry that the cases have spread to Blantyre and are escalating owing to serious sanitation issues.

Blantyre registered its first case on April 26 2022.

Said Chimulambe: “This is worrisome and it will be worst if we move the way we are moving now. Our water, sanitation and hygiene (Wash) systems are compromised both in the hospitals and communities.

“The messages are there but resources such as water and soap are not there in the facilities.”

A National Statistical Office (NSO) report released last year indicates that coverage of water points in the country is at 98 percent, but according to Chimulambe, half of those points are not functional.

He further called on the councils to be vigilant by investing in waste management, solid and sewage waste management, especially in markets and high density townships such as Ndirande and Zingwangwa.

Blantyre City Council spokesperson Deborah Luka acknowledged the shortfalls in garbage collection, blaming it on the shortage of vehicles and vandalism of private toilets.

Blantyre district director of health services Dr. Gift Kawalazira said they have the capacity to contain the outbreak.

He said his office is doing very well in terms of surveillance leading to early identification of cases thereby avoiding more deaths.

Malawi Health Equity Network executive director George Jobe said the situation calls for a massive cholera vaccination campaign in all districts. Last month Malawi received 1.9 million doses of oral cholera vaccine from the Global Emergency Stockpile for the first round of the vaccination campaign.