Malawi to host High-level Emergency Ministerial Meeting for Cholera affected countries

The Government of Malawi has announced that it will host the High-level Emergency Ministerial Meeting with the support from the Africa CDC and the World Health Organisation.

According to the press release signed by the Minister of Health, Hon. Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, the High-level Emergency Ministerial Meeting which is scheduled to take place in Lilongwe at the Bingu International Conference Centre from 9th to 10 March 2023 is for the countries that have been affected by Cholera, those at risk, relevant regional communities and partners.

Kandodo said the meeting will be building on existing experience and previous collaboration within the region and beyond; including the collaborative framework to coordinate Cholera outbreak and other Public Health preparedness and response in member states at risk.

“The High-level Meeting aims on Countries to share information on the Cholera outbreak and response to date: facilitate experience sharing in managing the Cholera outbreak; discuss preparedness and readiness priorities; and align on cross boarder collaboration and coordination mechanism to better prepare for and to rapidly respond to the current Cholera outbreak and any other health emergencies,” reads the press release in part.

Chilima to grace the meeting

The minister of health in her press release has announced that the State Vice-President, Dr Saulos Klaus Chilima is among the individuals to attend the meeting and he will be the Guest of Honour.

Other individuals to attend the meeting which is aimed at highlighting the proactive preparedness and concerned effort to address climate change impacts like cyclone, and Climate Change health related emergencies are Ministers of Health, minister of water and Sanitation from other 14 countries within the Africa region, International Organisations, Bilateral and Multilateral partners.

“It is expected that after the meeting The participating member states will issue a joint communique resolving to strengthen cross boarder collaboration, Coordination, timely sharing of data related to Cholera and Climate Change related emergencies.

“The meeting will also facilitate the establishment of the Africa Elimination of Cholera Epidemics Coordination Taskforce (AECECT) championed by the President of Zambia, His Excellency Hakainde Hichilema, the current Cholera and other emerging and re-emerging diseases of regional concern including climate related emergencies,” adds the press release.