By Moses Nyirenda

Lilongwe, March 12, Mana: Ministry of Health says it is committed in adopting various measures that would help to prevent disease outbreaks in camps in Nkhota-kota district where people who were affected by floods are living.

This comes after Minister of Health, Khumbize Chiponda recently visited two camps in Nkhotakota district namely; Lunga which is in the area of Traditional Authority (T/A) Mphonde and Ngala camp which is located in T/A Kanyenda in the district.

Chiponda said that when people are overcrowded in camps there are health hazards, hence her ministry’s commitment to come up with measures aimed at preventing the disease outbreaks in the camps.

We have cholera in the country just like last year, so we want to make sure that within the camps there is no outbreak,” Chiponda said.

She added that her ministry is also vigilant to make sure that people living in the camps should not catch 'Pink eye' disease which has affected people in some parts of the country including Nkhota-kota district where so far 15 cases of the disease has been recorded.

She also said as part of the efforts to prevent diseases in the camps as a ministry, they have deployed; clinicians, nurses and Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) who are currently providing healthcare services such as vaccination for Children and antenatal clinics for pregnant women living in the camps.

According to the Minister, the ministry will continue to come up with measures like providing enough medical equipment and personnel in the camps in a quest to prevent disease amongst people living in the camps.

She further hailed partners for supporting government through her ministry to promote good health in the camps.

“We are so grateful that we have so many partners that are assisting us which include; World Health Organization (WHO), Red Cross as well as United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

Nkhotakota North Constituency Member of Parliament (MP), Henry Chimunthu Banda commended Ministry of Health for its commitment to adopting measures aimed at preventing disease outbreaks in camps saying that the gesture would promote good health among people living in the camps.

About 16,415 people were affected by floods which occurred on February 27, 2024 in Nkhotakota district; currently   10,529 survivors of the floods are living in 11 camps in the district.