Malawi: Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda has announced that the government of Malawi is alert on the Mpox disease. Mpox, also known as the Monkeypox disease was recently declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Minister of health in Malawi has expressed his sincere concern on the issue during his recent interaction with the media. The Minister made the announcement on Wednesday during the supervision visit at QECH.
At the time the minister was present there to monitor the progress of the work on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) at the microbiology lab. The media interaction was hosted in Blantyre where he said that the nation is preparing to deal with the crisis.
Minister Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda said that they have already started interacting with the WHO and the Africa Center for Disease Control. The aim of the interaction is to make sure that the nation can continue to receive Mpox vaccine.
The ministry wants to protect the members of the community against the said disease. The leaders of the Ministry of Health have shared that the nation currently has two suspected cases of Mpox in Blantyre.
One of the victims is a 31-year-old man, and the second case is that of a 17-year-old boy.
According to Chiponda, the health stakeholders of the nation are closely monitoring the cases very closely. One of the two cases is currently admitted in the hospital while the other is at home.
According to the Minister, the cases are under control. The minister also urged that the public should practice good hygiene to prevent the spread of Mpox.
The QECH Director Dr Kelvin Monad assured that the organization is maintaining vigilance on Monkeypox. They expect results for the first suspected case to be confirmed today.
“Once the results are out, we will share them with the ministry and they will be able to communicate with the general public,” Monad said.