While Malawi is still recovering from the cholera death toll of 1,700 people, which accumulated from March 2022 to December 2023, there are indications that some people are yet to grasp the message from that unforgettable period. For a case in point, one simply has to travel to Lipili Health Post in Dowa District where, as MPHATSO M’BANG’OMBE writes, healthcare service seekers have been facing challenges to answer the call of nature as the facility has no proper toilet.
Lucy Baisiko Mwalabu, 52, remembers the time when she failed to visit Lipili Health Centre in Dowa District.
“I had diarrhoea and, considering that the health post has no proper toilet, I decided to stay home and buy medication from one of the shops because I did not want to suffer the embarrassment of visiting a toilet that has no roof on top; one that may collapse any time.
“Of course, I did not recover and, three days later, forced myself to head for the hospital, though I knew that I was taking a risk because a healthcare facility without a toilet is as a good as a death trap. I mean, considering that cholera has been giving us a headache, how sure are we that we may not catch cholera in the process of seeking healthcare services?” she queried.
She is not the only one who is unhappy about the situation.
Volunteer Patrick Kawale is equally concerned, saying there is an urgent need to construct proper toilets at the healthcare service facility.
He said this would ensure that the dignity of service seekers is not compromised.
“It is deeply concerning that a healthcare facility as essential as Lipili Health Post lacks basic sanitary facilities such as toilets.
“It is essential that proper standards of hygiene are maintained in the country, not least at a public healthcare service facility,” Kawale pointed out.
Florida Jimu, one of the women from Kachiwale Village, Traditional Authority Kayembe, in the district said the absence of toilets at Lipili Health Post has disproportionately affected women, particularly those seeking under-five clinic services.
“It is crucial for the authorities to address this issue promptly, ensuring that Lipili Health Post continues to provide quality healthcare services while maintaining hygiene standards,” Jimu said.
She said ensuring proper hygiene is key to stemming the tide of cholera, especially now, when rains are falling in droves, thereby increasing people’s chances of catching cholera, a waterborne disease that flourishes in times like these.
The healthcare service facility serves people in Senior Chief Kayembe’s area.
Not that healthcare officials do not know about the situation at the healthcare service facility; they do.
For instance, Dowa District Hospital spokesperson Davie Nuka acknowledged the seriousness of the situation.
“We, therefore, assure community members that immediate action will be taken to address the problem of lack of toilet facilities at Lipili Health Post.
“We are deeply concerned about the health and safety of both patients and healthcare workers at the facility. Our team is working tirelessly to find a swift solution to this problem,” Nuka said.
This is coming to light when, earlier this month, the World Health Organisation indicated that Malawi’s 2023 cholera outbreak led to the highest number of cholera deaths in a single country in 2023.
In a report, the global body said the country’s death toll of 1,700 people also marked the deadliest cholera outbreak in the country’s history while, globally, Malawi’s number of cholera cases was more than that registered in any of the 30 other countries affected by cholera in 2023.
Globally, there were over 667,000 cases and 4,000 deaths recorded, with Afghanistan registering the highest number of 215,210 cases despite registering fewer deaths than Malawi — 99 deaths, followed by Syria with 180,288 cases. In total, Malawi registered 59,114 cases.
The report adds that several countries, Malawi inclusive, eventually received cholera vaccines to combat outbreaks.
“Between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023, 12 countries submitted 30 requests for oral cholera vaccine (OCV) doses for emergency use. A total of 33 million doses were dispatched, fully allocating the available stockpile.
“As of 9 January 2024, the global OCV stockpile stands at 1.1 million doses, which are available for allocation but not yet committed,” the report reads.
Reacting to the report, Presidential Taskforce on Covid and Cholera Co- Chairperson Winfred Chalamira Nkhoma told The Daily Times that the country is doing its best to avert the reemergence of the outbreak.
“There is progressive work being done to scale up safe water sources in most communities. All of the kiosks that were closed due to inability to pay bills have been reopened by water boards,” Nkhoma said.
