Africa CDC supports Malawi government’s Cholera fight – Capital Radio Malawi
29 March, 2024

Africa CDC supports Malawi government’s Cholera fight

Heath secretary Charles Mwansambo, Chiponda and Pierre

The African Centre for Disease Control (CDC), is touting good sanitation and hygiene practices as key to curbing Malawi’s most devastating cholera outbreak since 1973.

The remarks come as cholera figures recorded on 28 February show a cumulative figure of 49,622 including over 1,573 since the onset of the outbreak last March.

Yesterday Tuesday, the battle against the diarrhoeal infection received a boost in the form of a 100,000 US dollars-worth of essential medical supplies donation.

Courtesy of the African CDC, the supplies include 177,000 ORS sachets, some 5,000 bottles of lingers lactate and 50 tins of Chlorine solution HTH 70 %.

Presenting the donation on behalf of Africa CDC, AU Ambassador, David Pierre, commended the Malawi Government for its determination and gallantry to end the cholera outbreak.

“It is through the incident management team that Africa CDC had learnt of the shortage of essential commodities for Cholera response such as IV fluids – lingers lactate, Chlorine, and many others. So, to help arrest the situation, Africa-CDC has mobilised its internal resources and made a procurement of the urgently needed supplies worth $100 thousand.’’ Said Ambassador Pierre.

On her part, Health Minister Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda expressed gratitude to Africa CDC stressing the donation will greatly boost the war against the devastating cholera outbreak.

“We are so grateful to Africa CDC for coming in quickly to arrest the situation in Malawi. This shows how Africa CDC are committed in supporting their member states and we do not take it for granted.’’ Said, Honourable Chiponda.

Meanwhile;

The Africa Union – AU and the Africa Centre for Disease Control – CDC have deployed technical teams to Lilongwe, Blantyre and Mangochi to work closely with local authorities in combating the outbreak.

Pierre insists that the fight against the outbreak is a collaborative initiative considering that other countries on the continent have also recorded cases.

Africa-CDC is also working hand in hand with the Ministry of Health, Health Education section to deploy 1,100 community health workers in Lilongwe to strengthen risk communication.

According to Pierre, this will also enhance community engagement and help address misconceptions about Cholera and other health related issues.

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