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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: MALAWI CHOLERA OUTBREAK
HEADLINE: Malawi Faces Unprecedented Rise In Cholera Cases
PUBLISHED: 11/17/22
BYLINE: Lameck Masina
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Blantyre
VIDEOGRAPHER: Lameck Masina
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Schearf, MAS
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO X
VID APPROVED BY: Jason P. Godman
TYPE: TVPKGN
EDITOR NOTES: Photos for the web available))
((INTRO))
Malawi is struggling to contain one of the worst cholera outbreaks in years. It has spread nation-wide, killing more than 250 people and infecting more than 8,000. Authorities and aid groups have stepped-up cholera vaccination and hygiene campaigns, as Lameck Masina reports from Blantyre, Malawi.
((VIDEO-VOA: NURSE PUTTING DRIP ON CHOLERA PATIENT, LIST OF CHOLERA CASES AT LIMBE CLINIC))
((NARRATOR))
Malawi health authorities are struggling to curb a cholera outbreak that has spread to nearly all the country’s 28 districts.
((Dora Mwafulirwa, Limbe Clinic Head Nurse (English, 12 Secs))
“The cholera situation as of currently, we are receiving a lot of cases every day, the numbers have spiked at the moment, we are getting about four or three cases per day.”
((NOTE TO PRODUCTION: PATIENT’S GUARDIAN REQUESTED THE PATIENT’S FACE BE BLURRED BECAUSE OF HER CONDITION))
((VIDEO-VOA: CHOLERA PATIENT IN BED))
((VIDEO-VOA: WOMAN WASHING CLOTHES IN RIVER))
((NARRATOR))
The situation is more critical in areas where residents use water from untreated sources like rivers where bacteria can spread the diarrheal illness.
((Elida Phiri, Blantyre Resident (Chichewa, 15 secs))
“We used to have tap water in my area, but all the taps were vandalized, and also it’s very hard to access water from boreholes because most of them are not working.”
((VIDEO-VOA: HEATH WORKER CLEANING CHOLERA SECTION AT LIMBE CLINIC))
((NARRATOR))
Heath workers fear the increase in cases will overwhelm clinics.
((Dora Mwafulirwa, Limbe Clinic Head Nurse (English,19 secs))
“Our camp has got only four beds and one room. And the four beds in the other room. And in most cases, it is getting full, and this is in dry season when the cholera season is not started. So, we should expect more cases and we may not have enough space for everyone when the rainy season starts.”
((VIDEO-VOA: PATIENT TAKING CHOLERA VACCINE AT CLINIC))
((NARRATOR))
Malawi started vaccinating against cholera in May with support from the World health Organization.
But community health workers say the uptake has been slow because many people shun the vaccine.
((Thamu Chinula, M, (Chichewa, 18 secs))
“They often ask why we are bringing so many vaccines. They fear the vaccine might cause infertility. They say the vaccine is meant for children, without knowing that anyone can receive the vaccine, depending on the gravity of the outbreak at hand.”
((VIDEO-VOA: PEOPLE AT HEATH FACILITY))
((NARRATOR))
Malawi this month received nearly three million doses of cholera vaccine with support from the WHO, the Global Vaccine Alliance and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
((VIDEO-VOA: HEALTH WORKER SHOWING PEOPLE HOW TO APPLY CHLORINE INTO WATER))
((NARRATOR))
Health workers are educating communities on the need to take the vaccine and how to sanitize water supplies to make them safe for drinking.
((Lameck Masina, for VOA News, Blantyre, Malawi
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateNovember 17, 2022 16:12 EST
BylineLameck Masina
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
