Malawi suspends school opening in two cities amid spike in cholera cases

Lilongwe, Malawi | Xinhua | The Malawi government has suspended the opening of schools in the country’s capital city, Lilongwe, and its commercial hub, Blantyre, due to an increase of cholera cases in the cities.

This was announced Monday in a statement jointly signed by Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda and co-chairperson of the Presidential Taskforce on Coronavirus and Cholera, Wilfred Chalamira Nkhoma.

“Due to the recent and continuing increase in the number of cholera cases and deaths in the cities of Blantyre and Lilongwe,” opening of next school term for primary and secondary schools in the two cities will not start on Jan. 3 as earlier scheduled, the statement said.

Schools will remain closed “for no less than two weeks, and until further advice,” the statement said.

Malawi has recorded nearly 18,000 cholera cases and nearly 600 deaths since the onset of the outbreak in March 2022.

Blantyre and Lilongwe reported the highest tolls as a result of the outbreak, at 105 and 97 deaths respectively.

The disease’s spread on Sunday forced Blantyre city council to close Limbe Market, the city’s busiest trading hub, and Limbe Bus Depot, for a chlorination campaign.

City councils of Blantyre and Lilongwe have been urged to improve safe water supply, food hygiene, sanitation and cholera vaccination.

Authorities in other districts are also encouraged to step up efforts against the spread of the disease.