Mwanjawala, epicentre of cholera outbreak

The populous Mwanjawala Village has become the worst hit as cholera out-break goes out of reach in Karonga.

District environmental health officer Lewis Mtukula and district commissioner Rosemary Moyo attribute the outbreak, which has attacked almost 56 people up from 11 in January, to open defaecation among fishing communities of the Lake Malawi shoreline.

However, The Nation ventured into Mwanjawala where almost 40 people have been hospitalised due to the disease fuelled by drinking unsafe water as well as poor sanitation.

Mindolo Mhango’s household has been hit hard with four out of 11 occupants treated for the deadly disease whose symptoms include vomiting, dehydration and weakness.

Speaking shortly after the fourth member had been discharged, Mhango pointed to eight households which use an unsanitary pit latrine located in her household.

“We need more toilets, one for each home,” she said.

During the visit on Thursday, health workforce at Karonga District Hospital were shunning an isolation  camp housing 17 patients because of lack of protective wear, risk allowances and accessories for medical drips. n