Atlas Corps in conjunction with Partners in Health have started administering oral cholera vaccination to community members in Neno District.

Speaking during the exercise on Monday, Atlas Corps fellow and Partners in Health and Detail Housing specialist Revelation Nyirongo said the exercise is targeting market places as they are cholera hotspots.

“We are focusing on administering oral cholera vaccines to people in Zalewa, especially around the market because there is no access to safe water,” he said.

A businessperson takes the oral vaccine

Nyirongo said despite various stakeholders uniting to fight cholera in the district, the uptake of vaccine has been on the lower side due to myths and misconceptions surrounding the vaccine.

Neno District Health Office health promotion officer Ganizani Mkwate said cholera outbreak has hit hard the southern part of the district which includes Zalewa, Luwani, Litsimba and Lisungwi.

“We conduct awareness campaigns in the distrct to encourage people to follow hygeinic practices. We also administered the first phase of cholera vaccines in the district,” he said.

Dorothy Gonani, a resident at Zalewa, encouraged community members to take the vaccine, saying it is as safe.

“I am 56 and throughout I have been getting various vaccines and nothing bad has happened to my health,” she said.

Atlas Corps funded Partners in Health for the exercise.

Three weeks ago, Ministry of Health conducted another oral cholera vaccination in 13 districts worst hit by the outbreak.

As of Monday, Neno District had cumulatively registered 189 cholera cases with four deaths.

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