The World Health Organisation (WHO) has deployed two emergency medical teams (EMT) to help fight the outbreak in Malawi which has killed 1 254 people.

The teams, which started work on February 1, are responding to the outbreak by managing patients in treatment centers, providing essential medication and supplies, but also training local colleagues.

Mwansambo: It will help provide quality healthcare

In a statement released on Friday, WHO said the deployment is in partnership with the United Kingdom’s emergency medical team with funding from Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and Save the Children.

Reads the statement in part: “These teams will be in Malawi for six weeks, starting from February 1 to support the cholera outbreak response while helping to build the capacity of national health workers and surge responders.”

The EMT teams comprise medical doctors, nurses, infection prevention and control specialists, water, sanitation, and hygiene and logistics experts, and coordinators

“The EMT will work with national health workers and partners in cholera hotspot districts across the country. They are deployed according to an analysis of the epidemiological situation and an assessment of the needs of each targeted area and treatment centre,” the statement further reads.

Ministry of Health Principal Secretary Dr. Charles Mwansambo has hailed the initiative, saying it will help the country improve and provide quality healthcare during this crisis.

He said: “The outbreak presents a clear challenge to the country’s healthcare system. The additional support will help us to improve and provide quality of care that meets the minimum standards.”

WHO country representative Dr. Neema Rusibamayila Kimambo said medical teams were bringing crucial expertise in the response mechanism.

“Cholera death is avoidable with proper tools and resources in place. The medical team is bringing crucial expertise in clinical care which will help to improve patient outcomes in cholera treatment centres,” she said.

UK High Commission’s development director for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Olympia Wereko-Brobby was optimistic that the emergency medical team would help bring down the number of preventable deaths.

She said: “We saw how effective they were when they last deployed to Malawi in late 2021 to support the Covid-19 response.”

Save the Children EMT Team lead, Kate Jarman said their team had been deployed to Balaka where among others, will support case management and supply chain with focus on the high number of paediatric and maternal cases.

EMTs are groups of health professionals that provide direct clinical care to people affected by emergencies and disasters and support local health systems.

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