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Lilongwe DHO gets PPE

Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (Cadecom) has donated personal protective equipment (PPE) to Lilongwe District Health Office (DHO) to help in the fight against Covid-19.

Presenting the PPE on Tuesday, Cadecom secretary Emmanuel Khruza said they responded to Lilongwe DHO’s appeal for help.

“We supported Lilongwe DHO because they have registered a high number of Covid-19 cases,” he said.

Chunda speaks during the handover

Khruza said countries are trying hard to contain the spread of the pandemic; hence, health personnel, who are frontline workers, need PPE to do their job.

On his part, Lilongwe district environmental health officer Paul Chunga said the situation is worsening since the district registered the first case on April 2 2020.

He said the district has registered 754 cases with 20 deaths while 15 health workers have also tested positive for Covid-19.

Said Chunga: “The cases are increasing rapidly for both rural and urban areas. The treatment site at Kamuzu Central Hospital and the holding room at Bwaila Hospital are now full.

“So, we are conducting surveillance daily. Five teams every day go out collecting samples and following up those on self-quarantine.”

Chunga, who commended Cadecom for the donation, appealed to well-wishers for more support.

Lilongwe DHO is sensitising community members to wash their hands regularly and institutions to provide hand-washing facilities.

About 300 health workers in the country have tested positive for the virus.

The K39 million worth donation was funded by Australia-based Caritas Internationalis. The organisation has also funded public awareness campaigns in seven dioceses of Lilongwe.

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