Malawi rolls out Cholera vaccine to contain outbreak
Malawi has rolled out a vaccination campaign
to help stop an outbreak of cholera. Authorities report more than 350 cases and
17 deaths from cholera across eight districts of southern Malawi.
Malawi’s Ministry of Health declared the
cholera outbreak in early March after the first case was confirmed in the
Machinga district in southern Malawi.
The disease has so far spread to eight
districts including Nsanje, Chikwawa and Blantyre.
In its latest report on Monday, the ministry
said the country had recorded 367 cholera cases in all with 17 deaths and 19
hospital admissions.
Dr. Gertrude Chapotera represented the World
Health Organization at the launch of the vaccination campaign Monday in
Blantyre.
She said the campaign is running with support
from various global partners, including the Gavi Vaccine Alliance and the
Global Task for Cholera Control.
“We are supporting the Ministry of Health
with up to 3.9 million doses that will be administered in two rounds," she
said. "So this actually is the beginning of the first round with the
campaign starting from today the 23rd of May running up Friday this week the
27th of May.”
Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection
caused by ingesting food or water contaminated with bacteria. The disease
affects both children and adults and, if untreated, can kill within hours.
Dr. Gift Kawalazila is director of Health and
Social Services in Blantyre. He says the district has so far seen nearly 100
cases of cholera, with five deaths but only three hospital admissions as of
Monday.
“This means that cholera is a disease that
can easily be reversed and we have treatment options with us," said
Kawalazila. "So, the general message to the general population is that
they should quickly present themselves to our health workers in our different
health facilities whenever they notice the signs and symptoms of cholera which
is profuse diarrhea and vomiting in some cases.”
Health authorities say many people are
turning up for vaccination, with some districts running short of the doses.
Alinafe Longwe is among those who received
the cholera vaccine in Blantyre. Longwe says she did not get the COVID-19
vaccine, citing fears of blood clotting and other health issues.
“But with this one, I haven’t heard any
issues, so I am okay with it and I have received it and I am fine," said
Longwe.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health says it has
intensified public education preventing cholera infections. These include the
use of clean water for domestic purposes and observing personal hygiene.
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