By George Mponda

Karonga, September 16, Mana: Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) through its Cholera Preparedness project has intensified efforts to eliminate a Cholera threat in Karonga district after one patient was diagnosed at Mlare Health Centre in the district.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Monday, MRCS District Coordinator in Karonga, Reuben Malema said they are supporting the district with a number of activities to make sure the disease does not spread further.

He said that, "We are supporting the District Council with Cholera case investigation and contact tracing ever since the district registered a case under Mlare health facility.

We are supporting the delivery and distribution of the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) supplies which include pot to pot chlorination of the whole catchment area under Mlare health facility which contains 11 villages in Paramount Chief Kyungu's area.

“Community engagements with gate keepers at Mlare health facility and the activation of Case Area Targeted Intervention (CATI) and health promotion campaigns are being supported by us."

On his part, Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response Officer for Karonga District Health Office, Raymond Jereni said the environmental health team managed to identify eight direct contacts to the patient who are being monitored for signs and symptoms of cholera for 10 days.

"The patient has since been discharged and is in stable condition. However, information obtained has shown possible consumption of contaminated food and contacts to people from outbreak area in Tanzania specifically Mwambani and Illeje where the patient attended a funeral as the risk factors," he said.

Jereni has since recommended that more support should be readily available in form of finances and fuel.

"The readily available and easily accessible resources will facilitate timely response then reduce morbidity and mortality,” he explained.