Machinga District Health Office Establishes Oral Rehydration Points to Combat Cholera Outbreak

Malawi: Machinga District Health Office has established four Oral Rehydration Points (ORPs) in local communities to reduce the burden of cholera at the district hospital. One of the ORPs has been set up in the area of Group Village Headman (GVH) Kalonjere, under Traditional Authority Sitola, writes Meclina Chirwa.

In an interview, the Health Surveillance Assistant (HSA) for the area, Charity Mphula, praised the initiative as a crucial step in providing first aid treatment to patients before they are referred to the district hospital.

The community has intensified their efforts in promoting good hygiene practices, with the support of traditional leaders, in an effort to prevent the spread of cholera, which is linked to poor hygiene and sanitation.

GVH Kalonjere shared that his subjects were thrilled with the news and will continue to raise awareness about good hygiene practices in their village and surrounding areas.

However, the ORP currently faces a challenge with only one toilet available, which belongs to GVH Kalonjere.

Meanwhile, the ORP has not registered any cases since its establishment, which GVH Kalonjera attributes to the continued awareness campaigns on good hygiene practices happening in the area.