Cholera Outbreak in Lilongwe City

In a bid to fight against Cholera, Lilongwe City Council (LCC) today temporarily closed down Wakawaka market and Central Poultry 2000 Limited due to poor hygiene practices posing a great health risk to many as cases of cholera continue to increase in the City. Speaking during an inspection tour, His Worship The Mayor Councillor Richard Banda expressed deep concern with how the market operators and the Central Poultry company are not taking proper hygiene measures despite being among the highest food selling points in the City. During the inspection, it was noted that Wakawaka market toilets are in a very poor state with no running water and no roofing while Central Poultry Limited created its own illegal dumpsite within the company premises which is contrary to the City Waste Management Bylaws.”The closure orders are effective tomorrow until hygiene is improved and LCC will continue enforcing these Bylaws in many areas around the city in order to save human lives that are claimed due to Cholera. We have instituted our Enforcement Team to look into this.” said the Mayor. The Mayor further called upon all Malawians to observe strict hygiene measures in the fight against Cholera and urged all stakeholders to hold hands and collaborate as they deal with the outbreak. As of yesterday, 2 January, 2023, Ministry of Health Cholera Daily Update registered 409 new cases with 18,222 cumulative confirmed cases since it’s onset in March 2022. Currently, Lilongwe has recorded 1265 cases with 106 deaths.