The United Kingdom (UK) has committed over K500 million towards Malawi’s cholera emergency response.

Malawi is facing its worst cholera outbreak in two decades, with 33,608 cases reported and more than 1,093 people dead since March 2022 when the first cases were reported, the health ministry said in a statement Sunday.

Development Director at British High Commission, Olympia Wereko-Brobby said in a statement Monday that together with funding from Germany’s KfW, over K1 billion will be channeled through the Health Services Joint Fund to support the Malawi Government treat patients and contain the outbreak.

“The funding will cover priority areas such as improving management of cholera patients by providing surge capacity to cholera treatment units, establishment of community oral rehydration points, provision of urgent cholera supplies, strengthening measures to prevent spread of cholera, rapid water testing, repair and treatment of boreholes, among others,” she said.

Wereko-Brobby said the UK will provide additional technical support to the World Health Organisation (WHO) through its contribution to the Standby Partnership network.

“This technical support will deploy a water and sanitation expert to Lilongwe for 3 months, from January 2023 and the deployment of the UK Emergency Medical Team to provide hands on expert clinical support and capacity building of local health care workers,” she said.

Minister of Health Hon Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda said the support will enable the country to achieve objectives of its integrated cholera response plan to avoid further loss of life and more disruptions to education and other economic activities.