Cholera is killing more men than women with the age bracket of 45 and above recording the highest number of deaths, data from the Ministry of Health has shown.

In its Epidemiological Bulletin published on December 29 2022 for weeks beginning December 19 to December 25 2022, the Ministry of Health stated that of the cases registered in that weeks, 8600 were males representing 56 percent while 6 760 were females representing 44 percent.

A cholera treatment centre in Bangwe Township, Blantyre

The data further showed that since the beginning of the outbreak, the age group 21 to 30 years is the most affected at 25.2 percent followed by the 11 to 20 age group at 21.8 percent.

Reads the update in part: “Generally, the number of deaths from the cholera outbreak is increasing. Most deaths have occurred among males. Age groups 45 years above have recorded the most cholera deaths as of 25 December 2022.”

Most deaths have been reported in Mangochi District and by December 25, most patients had been admitted to Koche Health Centre with 1 939 cases, followed by Bwaila Hospital in Lilongwe with 727 cases and Monkey Bay Community Hospital in Mangochi with 697 cases, according to the update.

The ministry stressed that top reported risk factors contributing to the occurrence of new cholera cases remain unsafe water source, open defaecation/low latrine usage and poor food.

But health activist Maziko Matemba, while describing the statistics as important, said the findings are not surprising as men in Malawi “by nature” do not seek medical care early as compared to women.

He said: “But also this shows that women are more hygienic. Men take it easy on many hygienic issues. The 45 and above age are more vulnerable because as people age, the immunity system is lowered and with time, fighting diseases becomes more and more challenging.”

On the age group 21 to 30, Matemba said they are more active making them vulnerable to disease infection.

On his part, Malawi Health Equity Network executive director George Jobe attributed the increase in cholera cases among men to poor health seeking behaviour, as well as their late presentation to health facilities.

“Men take themselves as strong. Most of them don’t even disclose when they are sick. We need to encourage them to change their mindset,” he said.

Jobe concurred with Matemba that most of the deaths are occurring in the ages 49 and above, as the immunity becomes weaker as people grow. On Tuesday, the country recorded a total of 454 new cases and five new deaths bringing the total number of cholera cases and deaths since the onset of the outbreak in March 2022 to 18 676 and 625 respectively.

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