Malnutrition has left children in Malawi vulnerable to the country’s worst cholera outbreak, the United Nations warned Tuesday as it appealed for more than $50 million to help fight the spread.
About 4.8 million children – one in two – in the south-east African country are in need of humanitarian aid, the UN children’s agency UNICEF said.
Malawi’s health crisis
By the end of March, more than 213,000 children under the age of five are expected to be acutely malnourished, with more than 62,000 likely to be malnourished, said Rudolf Schwenk, UNICEF representative in Malawi.
Also read: Cholera kills more than 1,200 in Malawi – WHO
“As malnourished children are 11 times more likely to die from cholera than well-nourished children, a cholera attack could be a death sentence for thousands of children in Malawi,” he told reporters in Geneva via video link.
Malawi is experiencing the deadliest cholera epidemic in its history, combined with ongoing polio and Covid-19 infections.
The first case of cholera was documented just over a year ago, and the disease has since spread to all 29 districts.
Also read: Cholera remains a global threat
More than 50,000 people have been affected and more than 1,500 have died since March 2. Children are among the more than 12,000 cases and 197 of the deaths, Schwenk said.
Cholera outbreak ‘will get worse’
As the 2023 rainy season reaches its peak in the country, UNICEF warns that without immediate action, the outbreak will worsen.
The agency provides information on life-saving medicines, safe water and cholera prevention and treatment, but is currently short of funds and supplies and is appealing for $52.4 million.
Also read: Malawi calls for more vaccines to fight cholera outbreak
“To prevent future cholera outbreaks, we must support the country with significant investments in health, water and sanitation infrastructure,” Schwenk said.
Cholera is an acute waterborne diarrheal disease that can kill even the most vulnerable patients within hours if left untreated.
Since the outbreak began, Malawi has conducted two large vaccination campaigns, but due to limited supplies, only offered one instead of the usually recommended two doses of the oral vaccine.