NICO Group donate items worth K20m in 6 hospitals towards containment of cholera outbreak

Chapola hands over the medical items to clinical officer Leviticus Daniel

* At NICO Group, and mainly NICO Life, we believe that we cannot do without people and we always need our clients to be healthy

* We believe that these items will bring a significant change in mitigating the outbreak

By Victor Singano Jnr, Correspondent

In response to the assistance call made by government to the private sector towards containment of cholera outbreak which has hit the country, NICO Group on Wednesday donated various medical items worth K20 million to 6 hospital facilities.

At the official presentation at Ndirande Health Centre in Blantyre, NICO Life Insurance Limited Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Eric Chapola — representing the NICO Group Managing Director — said the donation is a response to the cholera outbreak, which is claiming lives of people and has put the country at a risk in as far development is concerned.

“At NICO Group, and mainly NICO Life, we believe that we cannot do without people and we always need our clients to be healthy. We believe that these items will bring a significant change in mitigating the outbreak.”

In his vote of thanks, clinical officer for Ndirande Health Centre, Leviticus Daniel applauded NICO Group for the support, which he said has come at the right time when the facility is registering high number of cholera cases.

He said the Centre is facing many challenges due to inadequate equipment used when treating cholera patients and lack of enough health workers.

“The coming in of NICO Group with these items is a commendable support and will really help us to defeat cholera,” he said.

Some of the donated items include; ringers lactate, liquid soap, cannulus, washing powder, blankets, basins, gumboots, gloves, 10 & 50 litre buckets, oral rehydration salts (ORS) and others.

NICO Group made the donation in partnership with World Vision Malawi.

Earlier this month, the Presidential Taskforce on Coronavirus and Cholera — through the Office of the President & Cabinet — made the appeal to the public, private corporate companies and organizations for support in the fight against nationwide cholera outbreak.

The Taskforce’s co-chairpersons, Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda (Minister of Health) and Dr Wilfred Chalamira Nkhoma, said the support can be in form of donations that are expected to cover various gaps currently being experienced in the prevention, control and management of the cases across the country.

They include medical supplies such as ringers lactate, giving sets, cholera beds, tents, examination and heavy duty gloves, gumboots, solar lamps.

Also for buckets with taps, aprons and soap, chlorine oral rehydration salts (ORS) and renovation/construction of sanitary facilities to support to schools to improve water and sanitation facilities as well as cash.

Those willing to support are requested to contact the Taskforce’s secretariat through national coordinator, Dr Bridon M’baya by email mbayab@gmail.com or phone +265 (0) 995 883 117 or on the following address:

National Coordinator

Covid-19 and Cholera Secretariat,

Office of the President and Cabinet,

Private Bag 301,

Lilongwe 3

Malawi

“The Presidential Taskforce welcomes any donations regardless of quantities and assures the general public that all donations received will be used for the intended purpose, and will be accounted for.

“The Secretariat will acknowledge all donations received through it,” says the Taskforce in its statement, adding “together we can reduce the spread of Cholera in our country,” the Minister said in a public statement.

As of Wednesday evening, the country registered 620 new cholera cases accompanied by 20 deaths — 10 reported in Lilongwe; three each in Blantyre, two each in Thyolo and Balaka, and one each in Mulanje, Mangochi and Chiradzulu; bringing the cumulative confirmed cases of deaths at 881 at the fatality rate of 3.28%.

The cumulative cases since the onset in March, 2022 is at 26,888 while a total of 24,891 have recovered and 1,116 cases currently in treatment centres as of Wednesday evening.

Mangochi has reported most cases since the onset at 5,511 and 95 deaths; Blantyre (4,033/147); Lilongwe (2,915/192); Salima (2,289/60); Nkhata Bay (1,514/44); Nkhotakota (1,253/53); Balaka (1,107/33); Rumphi (1,046/17) and Machinga, where it all started at 1,036 and 38 deaths.

Dedza is at (928/38); Karonga (922/23); Dowa (743/20); Mzimba North (466/2); Thyolo (389/12); Nsanje (316/14); Chikwawa (251/14); Neno (292/5) and Chikwawa (294/8).—Additional reporting by Duncan Mlanjira, Maravi Express