The Malawi Prison Service says it will continue enforcing strict hygiene and sanitation measures in prisons nationwide to keep cholera out, even though no cases have been reported.
Steve Meke, the services’ National Spokesperson has told Nthanda Times in an interview that the preventive steps include regular handwashing with soap, improved sanitation, proper waste disposal and ensuring access to clean and safe drinking water across all correctional facilities.
According to Meke, the measures are being enforced despite prisons not having recorded any confirmed or suspected cholera cases.
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“Malawi Prison Service we will continue to enforce hygiene practices in order to contain the cholera outbreak, despite not registering any case or having any suspect for the same,” Meke said.
He added that prisons currently have sufficient facilities to support the measures, but added that the service works closely with health authorities when resources are overstretched.
Health workers inside prisons, together with trained inmate peer educators, are also helping to spread awareness about cholera and other diseases among inmates.
“Whenever we are overstretched, we always link up with the Ministry of Health through the district health office in each and every district where we have a prison.
“These are inmates who have been trained to bring awareness of different diseases to their fellow inmates,” Meke said, adding that the initiative helps ensure prisoners remain informed about health risks and prevention.
Malawi has previously experienced deadly cholera outbreaks, with overcrowded living conditions often increasing the risk of rapid transmission in the country’s prisons.
Prison authorities say the continued enforcement of hygiene measures is aimed at ensuring correctional facilities do not become hotspots for the disease, as health officials reported that cholera cases nationwide rose to 16 as of January 5, 2026.