Malawi Seeks Help Over Cholera Outbreak

Malawi is currently faced with the severe challenge of a cholera outbreak. The cholera outbreak began in March 2022 and has killed hundreds of people. The disease has spread to almost all of Malawi’s 28 districts. The Malawian government sent out a plea for assistance to fight the cholera outbreak. The Presidential Taskforce on Coronavirus and Cholera led by Dr. Wilfred Chalamira Nkhoma and Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda is tasked with leading efforts to gather resources. 

The task force released a statement on January 9th, requesting resources to fight the cholera outbreak. These resources include the following; ringers lactate, giving sets, cholera beds, tents, examination and heavy-duty gloves, gumboots, solar lamps, buckets with taps, soap, and chlorine. The task force also asked for donations of any kind, promising to ensure any proceeds received will be accounted for and used to fight the cholera outbreak. 

The announcement was met with criticism on the social media platform. Members of the public questioned why a Gmail address was being used by government officials instead of an official government email address. 

The cholera outbreak has had a massively negative impact on Malawi. According to the BBC, the cholera outbreak has caused 595 deaths. It has also forced the major cities of Lilongwe and Blantyre to suspend the opening of schools. The opening of schools was delayed by two weeks, the health ministry claiming it was a measure to prevent school children from falling sick. Some parents were unhappy about the delay, claiming they had already prepared for the opening of schools. The onset of the rainy season is expected to make the cholera outbreak worse, more so considering the fact that Blantyre and Lilongwe reportedly have poor drainage systems. 

The Africa Centers for Disease Control announced that it was concerned by the cholera outbreak currently afflicting Malawi. It said the number of deaths was worrying, something the organization attributed to the ill not getting adequate medical care.