Malawi Aids Counselling and Resource Organisation (Macro) has donated K2 million worth of infection prevention equipment to Ntchisi Prison.

Speaking during the event on Monday, Macro project officer Keith Mwitiwa said the donation comprising toilet tissue, buckets and pails, dust bins and gumboots will help contain the spread of cholera, especially during the rainy season.

“We were concerned with the situation at the prison, as you know it is overcrowded. So, we want to help promote proper disposal of waste to prevent the spread of infections,” he said.

A Macro official hands over the items to Kapala

Ntchisi Prison officer-in-charge Costantine Kapala said the items will address water, sanitation and hygiene challenges at the prison which has 287 inmates.

“We needed these items for inmates to practice personal hygiene, especially in the face of rising cholera cases in the country,” he said.

Kapala said the buckets will help them store water as they walk long distances to fetch clean water.

The country is registering high numbers of cholera cases every day.

As of Monday, 13 647 cases and 404 deaths were cumulatively registered.

The Ministry of Health has attributed the rising cases to poor food hygiene, lack of safe water and open defaecation.

Three weeks ago, Ministry of Health administered cholera vaccination in some districts in the country.

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