Malawi has received a consignment of 2.9 million doses of Oral Cholera Vaccine (OCV).

The donation comes in amid the country registering cumulative confirmed 7, 030 cholera cases as of Monday this week.

Speaking upon receiving the donation in Lilongwe, Minister responsible for Health Khumbize Chiponda said the immunisation campaign that will be carried over the next few weeks is one of the country’s strategies to strengthen the ongoing cholera response and preparedness.

“The campaign will target 2.9 million Malawians comprising adults and children aged one year and above living in highly affected districts.

“However, we will still prioritize the provision of safe water and sanitation, and positive hygiene behaviour practices, which are critical to prevent and control the transmission of cholera,” said Chiponda.

The World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other partners are supporting the Government of Malawi through the Ministry of Health in dealing with the outbreak.

The support includes strengthening water treatment systems, case management, training health care workers, distributing essential medical supplies and raising awareness on hygiene practices and cholera prevention methods.

The doses received will prioritise the 14 districts with high numbers of cholera cases namely, Karonga, Rumphi, Mzimba North, Mzimba South, Likoma, Nkhata Bay, Chitipa, Lilongwe, Salima, Nkhotakota, Kasungu, Nsanje, Zomba, and Blantyre.

All the Districts in Malawi have reported at least one Cholera cases since the confirmation of the first case this year in March in Machinga district.

Meanwhile, the outbreak has been controlled in four districts and 207 people have died due to cholera as of Monday this week.