The outbreak has already left more than 6,200 cases and about 190 deaths in the African country
Nov. 8 (EUROPA PRESS) –
Malawi authorities have received nearly three million doses of cholera vaccines to deal with the declared outbreak in the country, which has left more than 6,200 cases and nearly 190 deaths, as confirmed by the World Health Organization ( WHO).
The WHO has indicated that the batch has arrived “at a key moment in which cholera continues to spread in Malawi”, after 6,253 infections and 188 deaths have been confirmed in 27 affected districts, as of November 7.
Both the agency and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other partners are helping the Government of Malawi through the Ministry of Health to care for patients, train medical workers, distribute supplies, strengthen water treatment and carry out awareness campaigns.
In this regard, the Malawi Minister of Health, Khumbize Kandodo Chiponga, stressed that the new vaccination campaign will be carried out “in the coming weeks” and explained that “it is one of the country’s strategies to strengthen the response and preparedness against cholera.
“The campaign targets 2.9 million Malawi citizens, both adults and children over one year of age, living in districts highly affected by cholera. In addition, we encourage all citizens to prompt treatment-seeking behaviour. before,” he said.
The WHO has indicated that this second vaccination campaign will prioritize fourteen districts with high numbers of cases: Karonga, Rumphi, Mzimba North, Mzimba South, Likoma, Nkhatabay, Chitipa, Lilongwe, Salima, Nkhotakota, Kasungu, Nsanje, Zomba and Blantyre.
Cholera is an acute diarrheal disease caused by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the ‘vibrio cholerae bacillus’, according to the WHO on its website, where it stresses that “cholera continues to be a global threat to public health and a indicator of inequity and lack of social development”.
