Save the Children has intensified community sensitisation on cholera in Zomba in a bid to contain the deadly outbreak.
Through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded Titukulane Project, the organisation is conducting awareness in trading centers and schools in order to promote cholera prevention measures among community members.
Speaking at one of the sensitisation meetings at Chimwalira Trading Centre, the organisation’s Social Behaviour Change Technical Coordinator, Blessings Kandulu, encouraged people to adhere to cholera preventive measures.
Kandulu said the measures include ensuring food hygiene, use of safe water, hand washing with soap and seeking care early whenever they experience signs and symptoms of cholera.
He also encouraged the community members to get cholera vaccine.
Nasawa Health Centre Medical Technician Felix Phewa Labson hailed Save the Children for bringing the initiative to the area which he said is one of the highly affected in the district.
Labson disclosed that since December 29, 2022, the facility has registered 17 cholera cases with no deaths.
However, Labson decried the unavailability of tents and beds for cholera patients, a situation which has forced the facility to turn one of its blocks into a makeshift treatment centre.
As of January,10, 2023, Zomba district had registered 133 cholera cases. Nine cholera-related deaths have been registered in the district since the onset of the outbreak in March 2022.
