The international medical humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders (MSF) strengthens its support to the health authorities by setting up a Cholera Treatment Unit (CTU) in Cape Maclear, Malawi, with a capacity of 10 beds, latrines, bathrooms, handwashing stations and waste disposal zones.
Since the 3rd of November, MSF teams have supported Koche Hospital to contain the spreading of the disease and treat patients infected with cholera. In its support to the Ministry of Health (MoH), MSF had already set up a CTU at Koche Hospital comprising of three admission wards with a capacity of 50 beds, including bathing and latrine facilities, water pumps, laundry area, morgue and waste disposal facilities.
After one week of activity, 324 patients were admitted and provided medical care. Water guards, soap and buckets have been distributed to the discharged patients while food is offered to patients and guardians to avoid transmission onsite. The hospital also received allowances to increase the staffing in the facility.
MSF also provides critical support to the hospital’s team on cholera patient management and donated supplies and consumables that include IV fluids, giving sets, gloves, cannulas, medicines and personal protective equipment (PPE). In addition, on-the-job training and mentoring of MoH medical staff on cholera case management is ongoing at Koche Hospital.
Finally, the non-governmental organisation carries out health promotion activities in the communities. MSF installed another 10-bed CTU in Monkey Bay. It has already reached over 795 households in three neighbouring villages (approximately 3975 people) with health and hygiene promotion messages.
Once a patient has symptoms such as profuse watery diarrhea, vomiting, thirst or leg cramps, they should go quickly to the hospital and avoid contact with their relatives, such as sharing food.Robert Wellemu, MSF Medical Focal Point for the cholera response
“Cholera is an easily preventable and treatable disease if people follow some basic hygiene rules and come quickly to a health facility in case of symptoms. These are the messages that we are sharing in the communities. For example, we explain to the people that they shall not wash their clothes, bathe in the lake, or drink water from it. They should use chlorinated water or water guard to treat water household level instead.
Once a patient has symptoms such as profuse watery diarrhea, vomiting, thirst or leg cramps, they should go quickly to the hospital and avoid contact with their relatives, such as sharing food”, explains Robert Wellemu, MSF Medical Focal Point for the cholera response.
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