LILONGWE, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Malawi will host a high-level ministerial meeting for countries affected by cholera in Lilongwe, Malawi's capital, from Thursday to Friday.

Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda announced this in a statement dated Monday, saying the meeting will be attended by ministers of water and sanitation from 14 countries within the African region, international organizations, and bilateral and multilateral partners.

The meeting will allow countries to share information on cholera outbreak and response, preparedness and readiness priorities, and align cross-border collaboration mechanisms to rapidly respond to the current cholera outbreak and any other health emergencies, said the official, stressing that the meeting will highlight the proactive preparedness and effort to address climate change impacts like cyclones, and climate change-related health emergencies.

"It is expected that after the meeting, the participating member states will issue a joint communique resolving to strengthen cross-border collaboration, coordination, timely sharing of data related to cholera and other emerging and re-emerging diseases of regional concern, including climate-related emergencies," said Chiponda in the statement.

She further said the high-level meeting will also facilitate the establishment of the Africa Elimination of Cholera Epidemics Coordination Task Force, championed by Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema.

Malawian Vice President Saulos Chilima will preside over the meeting Friday, according to the statement.

Malawi has been grappling with cholera since March 2022, when the first cases were confirmed. As of Tuesday, a total of 51,855 cases of infection had been recorded, with 1,616 deaths. Enditem

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