The Ministry of Health (MoH) has urged private hospitals in the country to treat cholera patients and not just refer them to government facilities.
Minister of Health, Khumbize Chiponda, said this in Lilongwe during a media briefing on the state of cholera in the country.
Chiponda said the country has been hit hard and continues to register more cases with Lilongwe City being the worst hit.
She said as of yesterday, Bwaila had 33 cases and recorded 4 deaths.
The minister said cholera is a manageable disease and private hospitals are capable to treat it.
She added that with the current increase of cholera cases in the country, private hospitals should also support government to reduce the workload by treating the patients.
Meanwhile, Lilongwe City Council has banned selling of cooked foods in schools, cooking at funerals and religious gatherings and has also closed restaurants in Malangalanga.
In addition, the council in collaboration with MoH officials will be providing cholera vaccines in markets to contain the spread of the disease.
The World Health Organisation has given Malawi 2.9 million doses of Oral Cholera Vaccine.
Currently, about 347 people have died and over 12 thousand have suffered from the disease since March this year.
