Be alert of Cholera in border districts – Chalamira Nkhoma

Co-Chairperson for the Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19 and Cholera, Dr Wilfred Chalamira Nkhoma, has emphasised on the need for Malawi to be on high alert of Cholera outbreak in the border districts if the country is to mitigate the disease and eradicate it by 2030.

He was speaking in Lilongwe on Friday during a tour of Cholera response interventions implemented by Lilongwe Water Board (LWB) to address the pandemic in the city.

LWB is implementing a Cholera Response Strategy in response to government’s appeals to curb the pandemic.

In February, 2023, President Dr Lazarus Chakwera launched the Tithetse Cholera Campaign at Mgona in Lilongwe with a call for stakeholders to join hands in the fight against Cholera.

Chalamira Nkhoma said much as the country has registered few Cholera cases this season compared to last year, it is a cause for worry.

Last year, Malawi registered over 58,000 Cholera cases while this year 133 confirmed cases have been registered with 77 of those confirmed in Mulanje, since November 1, 2023.

“If we compare cases that we had in the same season the previous year, we still have a small number of cases occurring in the country but they are giving us a warning that there are still cases out there.

“Worse still we have neigbhouring countries of Zambia and Mozambique that are dealing with severe Cholera outbreak as such we must watch all the border districts,” he said.

He, therefore, called for continued promotion of safe water and sanitation including food hygiene which, he said, is an issue mostly in the peri urban areas.

LWB Board Chairperson, Inkosi ya Makhosi M’belwa V, said through the strategy the Board has provided free water to 180,000 people with a K61 million grant from the European Investment Bank.

“The strategy is looking at three things; to provide water on areas where we don’t have water, to provide sanitation services in our supply area and provide awareness in the communities so that people know that it is important to use safe water.

“We are now realising fruits of the strategy in areas where we have extended supply thereby averting Cholera outbreak and other waterborne diseases,” he said.

The Board, under Lilongwe Water and Sanitation Project, has also built toilets in schools, markets and communities so that people’s hygiene is improved.

Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Liana Kakhobwe Chapota, called for stakeholder collaboration in raising awareness on Cholera to mitigate the pandemic.