Blantyre gears to contain cholera

Blantyre District Heath Office’s Senior Health Promotion Officer Chrissy Banda has disclosed that the district has recorded 772 cases of cholera with 28 deaths since April.

Banda made the revelation on Wednesday during cholera stakeholders meeting.

According to the DEHO, Bangwe township is topping the list and she attributed the situation to the use of unsafe water, poor hygiene and sanitation among communities.

“It has come to our attention that most people are not using Chlorine due to myths and misconceptions hence cholera cases,” she said.

Banda however, said Blantyre DHO has embarked on a number of interventions which include hygiene promotion activities coupled with distribution of Chlorine to communities in order to fight against cholera in the district.

“We have increased surveillance and coordination meetings with different health partners besides, intensifying community sensitization activities with local leaders and councilors and the public at large,” she said.

She then advised the public to practice proper hygiene and sanitation, use safe water treated with Chlorine and wash hands with soap at all critical times.

Speaking during the meeting, one of the Blantyre DHO partners, Centre for Development Communication Executive Director, Fred Yiwombe expressed worry with the situation indicating that the organisation is in deep talk with Unicef to support Blantyre DHO interventions.
Meanwhile, Blantyre DHO will soon roll out the second round of Oral Cholera Vaccine campaign in the district.