Religious Leaders in Malawi Appeal for Collaboration “to contain cholera epidemic”

They note that a “good number of CHAM facilities in Lilongwe, Blantyre, Mangochi and Zomba have been hardest hit as they lie in cholera hot-spot districts.”

“CHAM has a total of 51 health facilities in the four mentioned districts serving a combined total population of 1,304,452,” the religious leaders say.

Against this backdrop, the religious leaders in Malawi appeal for partnerships to help CHAM address the health challenge. 

“We appeal to the Government of Malawi to authorize CHAM to employ temporary frontline health workers to contain the cholera epidemic,” religious leaders in Malawi say in their collective statement.

They appeal to the government of Malawi and its bilateral and multilateral partners, the private sector as well as other well-wishers “to make available cholera supplies such as cholera vaccine, chlorine, gloves, IV solution (Lingers Lactate), IV lines, plaster, drip stands, intravenous cannula, Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), water buckets (tapped and non-tapped), gum boots and tents among others to all CHAM facilities in the hardest hit districts.”

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“We request the Government that, in the new MOU, which is yet to be signed, costs for public health emergencies should be included,” the religious leaders add.

They appeal to the general public “to take the cholera outbreak seriously by practicing infection prevention measures such as regular washing of hands with soap and drinking safe water among others.”

“It is our sincere hope and prayer that together as a nation, we shall remove this burden from our society as soon as possible,” they add.

The religious leaders further say Malawians need to join forces if they are to “win the battle against cholera because the Government alone cannot win it.”

On January 12, Malawi’s Health Minister Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda ordered the “closure of many businesses that lack safe water, toilets and hygienic refuse disposal facilities, and announced restrictions on the sale of pre-cooked food.”