Malawi On High Alert For Coronavirus

BY MEMORY CHATONDA, MANA

Minister of Health and Population (MoH), Jappie Mhango on Monday said government has instituted different precautionary measures to prevent Coronavirus from being transmitted to Malawi.

He also said the country is prepared to handle any case should anyone be diagnosed of the virus.

Mhango said of the country’s preparedness when he delivered a ministerial statement on Coronavirus outbreak in China and other countries in Malawi’s Parliament.

He said currently, his ministry was engaging different government ministries and partners to prepare and respond to the virus. He said they are developing a Costed Preparedness Plan and also disseminating information to the public about the outbreak of the virus.

“In collaboration with our partners, we are screening for Coronavirus among all travellers arriving in Malawi through international airports. We are also following up to 14 days all travellers from China into Malawi.

“The ministry has also put in place a mechanism for laboratory confirmation of the Coronavirus in-patients who may be suspected of the infection.

“So far, only 15 laboratories in the world have been identified by World Health Organisation (WHO) to provide testing for the virus,” Mhango said.

He added: “MoH has also ensured that our hospitals have the capacity to manage patients suspected of Coronavirus through training of health workers and provision of drugs and supplies.”

The minister, therefore, advised Malawians to avoid travelling to China until the outbreak is controlled as the Chinese Embassy in Malawi is restricting its people from moving out of Malawi.

He, therefore, assured people in the country that government was doing everything possible to ensure that Coronavirus is not imported into the country.

“With WHO, we are monitoring the outbreak situation in China and other countries in order to guide the response,” he said.

Mhango said so far, no case of Coronavirus has been detected in Malawi and Africa at large. By February 6, 2020, about 28, 276 laboratory confirmed cases had been reported globally. Of these cases 28,060 had been reported from China.

The 565 deaths, except one, had been reported from China as a result of the outbreak.