Malawi: The Ministry of Health through the Blantyre District Health Office (DHO) has included the journalists and media houses to spread awareness regarding cholera, measles. The District health office also discussed infectious filovirus diseases such as Ebola, Mpox and Marburg.
The health office wants to equip the journalists with the important information to make sure that they are ready with correct facts in case of an outbreak in the country.
Deputy Director for Community and Promotive Healthy Service, Dr. Kondwani Mamba made these remarks during a regional media interaction. The event was hosted on Wednesday at the Malawi Sun Hotel in Blantyre.
He said that it was crucial to interface with the media, as media disseminates information to the public through various channels.
“As a country, we are in an alert mode because the disease is not yet in our country, but it has affected our neighbouring countries like Tanzania which has been attacked by Marburg disease.
“We are therefore on the alert such that our borders are well prepared, and we are also doing capacity building for our health workers. We thought of engaging media houses so that they could inform people of these diseases,” added Mamba.
He has announced that the people have no reason to be scared as the disease is not yet in Malawi. Mamba has asked the people of the country of to use preventive measures to avoid being infected.
Dr. Mamba highlighted that vomiting, bleeding, severe watery diarrhea and cramping are some of the prominent symptoms for the diseases. The Ministry of Health officer asked the people to constantly remain in touch and called on the public to always consult health personnel in case of such signs and symptoms.
Filovirus diseases can spread through direct contact with an infected person or animal. People that have direct interaction with wild life or with human cases are at the highest case of contracting the disease.
The media professionals have shared that the interaction in collabration with the Blantyre District Health Office was very important to make sure the media outlets are armed with the right information. They can prevent the spread of misinformation and prevent panic in the community.