The Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda on Monday launched the Oral Cholera Vaccine (OCV) campaign at Dziwe Health Centre in Balaka with a call for all to embrace the vaccine.
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Chiponda said all vaccines are safe, well tested and approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), hence the need for people to change their mindset towards vaccines and start utilizing them.
Said Chiponda: “I have launched this OCV here at Dziwe, which is deep in the outskirts of Balaka, to show that good health service delivery must be equal to all despite the terrain or distance of the area.
“Balaka is one of the Cholera hotspots as it has recorded 75 cases and three deaths. That is why we thought of launching the vaccine in Balaka and specifically in this area as an extra measure to minimize the wide spread of the disease.”
The Minister said was impressed with the attitude of Sub Traditional Authority Mpilisi, traditional leader of this area, who was the first to be vaccinated.
“This has also increased the acceptance of the same by the members of the community as few minutes after the launch I saw people in long queues waiting to receive the vaccine. It simply shows that most people now understand the importance of the vaccine,” she said.
Expanded Program of Immunization (EPI) Malawi office coordinator for World Health Organization, Dr. Aisi Akoso said as an organization, their aim was to ensure that there is equal access to health for all, and the launch of the Cholera vaccine goes a long way in ensuring that there was equal access to good health services to the people.
“WHO has provided 20 thousand doses of the vaccine and we are also providing technical and financial support for the deployment of the vaccine to the last mile, which means every household in every community identified as a hotspot of cholera, must be reached with the vaccine.
“With the Ministry of Health we are using diverse strategies to reach to the people with the vaccine, we have sites within the health facilities, temporary sites in different places such as high traffic areas like markets, water points as well as the schools, and we also have the door to door team so that everyone from one year above must be vaccinated,” she said.
Patuma James from Chikamana Village within Dziwe Health Centre hailed government for the vaccine saying all her family members and herself were all present and ready to be vaccinated.
“Last year, I came to this facility with my son, 25 years of age who got admitted because of Cholera. I know how dangerous the disease is. I almost lost my son; lucky enough I rushed to the hospital before the worst happened. Let me urge all who are still in denial to embrace this vaccine and have themselves protected,” she said.
The campaign is expected to run up to Friday, January 24, 2025, and once a person is vaccinated, he or she is immune of cholera for six months.
