A husband's fast thinking saves two lives from the deadly grips of cholera
Early care seeking saves lives
The cholera treatment tents at the Area 25 clinic are filled with patients of all ages, including mothers, fathers, and children, who are at various stages of the sickness. Some patients are hooked up to IVs, while others take oral rehydration solution (ORS) and some are asleep, too weak to stay awake.
Despite the overwhelming number of patients, the tents are well-organized, with each bed equipped with a green basins and pails to treat patients in an effective manner.
In one corner of the tent, a young lady sits and listens attentively to a foreign doctor who communicates with her through a translator. Although the doctor looks serious, the young lady smiles and nods throughout the conversation, and the doctor hands her some sachets of ORS before they part ways.
Accompanied by a young man, the lady packs the sachets into her bag and giggles as they leave the tent. They are sprayed with chlorine at the exit before starting their long journey back to Chikanda, which is about three kilometers from the clinic.
To find out why the young woman was admitted to the Cholera camp, I catch up with the couple. Typical of the Malawian tradition, the man responds to my questions directed to his wife, even though he was not the one admitted.
Felix, the husband, reveals that his wife, Anna, fell ill the previous evening after dinner. She had four episodes of diarrhea between 1:00 am and 6:00 am, and with each episode, she grew weaker. She also complained of feeling hot in her legs.
Felix remembered the cholera radio adverts and quickly arranged transportation to take them to the Area 25 health centre. He even informed his employer that he needed to take care of his ailing wife.
Anna was connected to an IV for a few hours and only experienced one episode of diarrhea and no vomiting while in the hospital. The doctors and nurses made multiple visits to her, inquiring about her pregnancy and her living arrangements.
After a few hours, the doctor gave her ORS sachets to continue taking at home before releasing her.
When asked where she might have contracted cholera, Anna believes it was from the water they drink. She explains that the community borehole broke down a long time ago, and people have been digging wells in their compounds and drinking water from whatever source they can find.
According to Lusungu, the clinician on duty, there are many rumors and misinformation about cholera spreading in the community. Many people are choosing to stay home and die because of these rumors. To counter this, health talks are conducted in the community, and individuals are engaged one-on-one to address their fears.
Lusungu emphasizes that in cases like Anna's, they do not only treat the patient for cholera but also address other issues, such as pregnancy, to ensure the safety of both mother and unborn baby.
She smiles and commends Felix for bringing his wife to the hospital on time, saying that his quick action saved both his wife and their unborn baby's life.
