Authorities at Machinga and Mangochi district hospitals have revealed that due to a shortage of cholera health workers, they have had to use workers from other wards to assist with cholera patients, which is affecting their ability to respond to other health conditions.

Acting District Medical Officer at Machinga District Hospital, Patrick Chavala Banda, and Senior Nursing and Midwifery Officer at Mangochi District Hospital, Maria Ndawala, said that they have only five nurses who are attending to between 40 and 60 cholera patients at their facilities.

Chavala and Ndawala made these statements as a charity organization, Green Crescent, supported the two facilities with assorted medical supplies, including zinc, doxycycline, and normal saline, among others, to assist in the management of the cholera outbreak.

Chairperson for Green Crescent, Ashraf Chipojola, said they are responding to the government’s call for resource assistance as it is currently unable to meet the needs of the hospitals.