The World Health Organisation (WHO) has collaborated with Malawi’s Ministry of Health and partners to address the threat of cholera misinformation in the country.
Development Diaries reports that as cholera spread in Malawi in late 2022 and at the start of 2023, rumours and misinformation intensified.
It is understood that the rumour that health workers were harvesting and selling body parts was especially recurrent, sparking fear and anger among communities over burial rituals.
The global health body noted that it has trained community health workers to verify claims and empower communities on cholera prevention.
The outbreak that started in March 2022 has been described as Malawi’s worst ever, with nearly 57,600 cases and over 1,700 deaths recorded.
However, enhanced outbreak control measures have helped curb the outbreak, with the country reporting a downward trend in cholera cases and deaths since early February.
According to WHO, misleading information on cholera poses a real threat to outbreak control.
It also noted that mistrust in health workers, fuelled by misinformation, has even sparked physical aggression towards doctors and nurses in cholera-affected areas, undermining outbreak response efforts.
Photo source: WHO
