Local leaders want police to join cholera fight

Local leaders in Traditional Authority (T/A) Mwirang’ombe in Karonga say they will seek police intervention to force some households to use water treated with chlorine to avert a cholera outbreak.

Group village head Gangamwali on Tuesday said it is worrisome that some people were refusing chlorine administered by Participatory Development Initiative (PDI) under Emergency Cholera Response project.

The chief observed that the practice is frustrating efforts to prevent cholera in the area, which is the worst affected when the outbreak strikes.

“This is one area which is worst affected by cholera because people run away from the salty borehole water and opt for shallow wells which are not safe.

“It is sad that some people are refusing to use chlorine to treat water because their church does not allow them to use medicine,” said Gangamwali.

PDI project manager charity Phiri said the project targets T/A Mwirang’ombe because it is one of cholera hotspots in the district.

“We are conducting awareness meetings targeting the cholera hotspots to ensure that people are following good sanitation and hygiene practices as the rainy season approaches.

“We are impressed that some communities have constructed toilets, and we expect others such as Ngala and Phapa to follow suit,” she said.

Phiri said they would continue to administer chlorine in the district to ensure cholera prevention.