Lilongwe, Jan 18 (NationPress) Malawi has initiated a five-year cholera control strategy, aiming for a 90 percent reduction in the disease's annual incidence rate and targeting a case fatality rate of less than 1 percent by 2030.

The initiative, named the Malawi Multi-sectoral Cholera Control Plan (MMCCP), was unveiled on Thursday to improve coordination and execution of various interventions dedicated to cholera prevention and control across the nation.

Health Minister Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda emphasized the necessity of the MMCCP, pointing out that Malawi has endured repeated outbreaks since the first cholera cases emerged in 1973.

From March 2022 to January 2025, Malawi documented 61,639 cholera cases alongside 1,786 related deaths. The persistent outbreaks in this southern African nation have been linked to limited access to safe water, inadequate sanitation, and poor hygiene practices within households.

The minister noted that a series of natural calamities, including tropical storms and cyclones like Ana, Gombe, Hidaya, Freddy, and Chido, have further aggravated existing risk factors and inflicted significant damage on the already overwhelmed health systems.

Joseph Seriki, the focal person and regional coordinator for the Global Task Force on Cholera Control, called the MMCCP a landmark document representing a unified resolve to eliminate cholera in Malawi, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

He remarked that the recent cholera outbreaks in Malawi serve as a catalyst for immediate and sustained action to tackle the root causes of the disease and to enhance preparedness and response strategies.

In parallel, Malawi has commenced an oral cholera vaccination campaign in five districts where the disease is prevalent, with a death toll of 14 and 263 recorded cases since September 2024.

The World Health Organization describes cholera as an acute diarrheal infection caused by consuming food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Cholera remains a global public health threat and is a key indicator of social inequity and underdevelopment. Estimates suggest that annually, there are between 1.3 to 4.0 million cases of cholera, resulting in 21,000 to 143,000 deaths worldwide.

Cholera is an extremely serious condition that can lead to severe acute watery diarrhea and severe dehydration. Symptoms may appear within 12 hours to 5 days after ingesting contaminated food or water. The disease can affect both children and adults and may lead to death within hours if not treated.