Ministry of Health has assured that Malawi is on alert to overcome any Covid-19 fresh outbreak after recording a nine percent increase in new cases.

Minister of health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda yesterday confirmed the increase in cases at a press conference in Lilongwe to update the nation on health sector developments such as infrastructure and strategy to combat disease outbreaks.

People wear masks at a meeting in this file photo

She said: “In the week 30 May to 5 June 2022, Malawi registered 47 new Covid-19 cases, representing a nine percent increase in the number of new cases compared to the previous week.

“The positivity rate was at 3.4 percent, a slight increase from 2.2 percent recorded in the previous week.”

Chiponda, who is also co-chairperson of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, said the ministry would scale up the vaccination campaign, which has to date seen 1 473 644 fully jabbed, to counter the situation.

She said: “My ministry recognises that the vaccination rates are still low. We will, therefore, work to bring the vaccines to your door step through different modalities. We will continue to provide vaccines through a door-to-door campaign and mobile vaccine express besides our routine delivery modes.”

Meanwhile, Chiponda has urged the communities to adhere to prevention strategies to tame a potential outbreak.

On the country’s readiness for an outbreak, the ministry’s spokesperson Adrian Chikumbe said they have all the required equipment such as oxygen and respiratory machines in place.

In a separate interview yesterday, he said: “We have oxygen plants at Phalombe hospital, Queen Elizabeth and Kamuzu Central which are operational.

“Another one will be commissioned in Mzuzu soon while plans are underway for three others at Bwaila hospital in Lilongwe, Kasungu and Zomba. Oxygen was our biggest challenge in the previous waves.”

Chikumbe further said nearly all the district hospitals had isolation facilities designated to admit Covid-19 patients.

“In terms of prevention, we have extended our vaccination coverage though not to the satisfactory level. At the clinical level, we have developed some experience that we can use in the upcoming waves,” he said.

A Ministry of Health Covid-19 update statement issued on Tuesday said 21 new cases were recorded in the previous 24 hours; eighteen of which were locally transmitted while three were imported.

On polio immunisation, Chiponda said the ministry will roll out the third round of vaccination next month targeting under-five children.

She further disclosed that the ministry has immunised 95 percent of 1 947 695 one-year olds against cholera, another disease that periodically becomes an outbreak.

Meanwhile, Society of Medical Doctors in Malawi president Victor Mithi also expressed hope that the country has better capacity to manage Covid-19 outbreaks than in the previous years.

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