CHOLERA OUTBREAK THREATENS STREET CONNECTED CHILDREN’S HEALTH

 CHOLERA OUTBREAK THREATENS STREET CONNECTED CHILDREN’S HEALTH

By Jecina Chikwelete 

Organizations working with street-connected children have expressed fear that these vulnerable children could be greatly affected by the Cholera outbreak which is spreading rapidly in urban areas.

About 91 people have died of Cholera in the country since the outbreak.

in an interview with Timveni, Social Work Coordinator for Tikondane Care for Children, Bridget Chetama, said children living in the streets are not safe since they spend time looking for food among garbage in trash bins.

The issue of street children is a serious problem in Malawi with estimations pegging their population at around 3,000 nationwide.

The last survey conducted in 2015 revealed that Lilongwe alone had over 2,000 street connected children.

Chetama said being a waterborne disease, Cholera can only be dealt with through hygiene practices therefore children in the streets are at a greater risk because of their poor living conditions.

She has therefore asked organizations and government to hold hands and reach out to the street connected children with hygiene messages while also encouraging them to leave the streets.

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