By Richard Kagunda

Kasungu, November 26, Mana: Kasungu District Council health authorities have planned to source MK363 million to operationalize a strategy devised to prepare and respond to health emergencies such as cholera, which traditionally cause havoc during the rainy season.

Unveiling the plan to stakeholders on Tuesday, Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response Coordinator for Kasungu District, Chrispine Thomo said the best approach to deal with outbreaks is to prepare for them.

“To win the war against health emergencies like cholera, we don’t have to wait until we register a case. We just have to prepare, putting resources together and executing the devised strategy,” Thomo said.

The response plan outlines enhanced community awareness and sensitization campaigns on preventive measures, along with training for health personnel on emergency management and preparedness activities.

“A word to the communities out there is that the rainy season is here. Let us make use of the information we get on prevention, especially for waterborne diseases like cholera and diarrhea which spread fast during the rainy season,” Thomo said.

Senior Health Surveillance Assistant at Kasungu District Hospital, Dickson Mbewe appealed to stakeholders and well-wishers to help in mobilizing resources.

“We urge partners to support this exercise because we know we cannot do this alone.

“Already, we have intensified awareness messages and would like to get to every corner of the district using various approaches so that everyone gets the message and stays safe from diseases,” he said.

In the 2022/23 season, Malawi was heavily hit by cholera registering close to 59, 000 cases with at least 1, 768 fatalities before it was declared ‘no longer an emergency’ early August 2023.

While Kasungu did not register alarming cases during the previous outbreaks, the district has always been on alert and actively involved in the Tipewe Kolera campaign through which authorities have been disseminating messages on prevention and control, targeting local leaders and the community at large.

Health Promotion Officer for the district, Catherine Yoweli said in an interview that the health office also carried out house inspections in communities checking the availability of proper sanitary facilities and intensified surveillance of cases.

In 2024, cholera resurfaced in September, about two months after it was declared over, with Chitipa and Karonga districts reporting the most cases.

At least six people have died in the lakeshore district of Karonga, which has reported 49 cases while the neighboring Chitipa District has registered 61 cumulative cases with two fatalities.