Scabies outbreak attacks Malawi flood-victims camps

An outbreak of scabies and other related skin diseases have attacked some camps in Chikhwawa District where thousands of people displaced by floods are accommodated, a health official in the district told local media Saturday.

The official, Thomson Kajombo, said close to 140 people, most of them children, in five camps were attacked by the outbreak and that over 200 people had developed rash and other related skin diseases.

He attributed the outbreak to poor sanitation and lack of clean bath water in the camps and he has since appealed for immediate response from government and organizations which are currently supporting the displaced people with various relief amenities.

In a related development, education activists in the country have described the impact of the hailstorm and floods on education as a very retrogressive considering that over 280 school blocks were damaged in 15 districts of the country.

Besides, classrooms of over 190 schools out of those that survived in the affected areas have been turned into camps for the displaced people, crippling the education system altogether.

More support continues to pour into the country following President Peter Mutharika's appeal for to the world for humanitarian aid in the wake of the floods and hailstorm that displaced over 135,000 people and killed over 180.

Out of the 15 district that were affected by the floods and hailstorm, four border districts of Phalombe, Mulanje, Chikhwawa and Nsanje were the worst hit. Endi