Porous borders feared to expose Malawi to Ebola

Malawi’s porous borders have been said to be one of the major risks that might expose the country to the deadly Ebola outbreak currently causing havoc in some African countries especially in the western parts of the continent.

The country’s Chief Immigration Officer Hudson Mankhwala has therefore asked all people in border districts to be on guard and also desist from aiding illegal immigrants into the country.

Chief Immigration Officer Hudson Mankhwala: Alert
Chief Immigration Officer Hudson Mankhwala: Alert

According to Mankhwala, a lot of Malawians have taken advantage of the porous borders to make quick money by aiding illegal immigrants.

The World Health Organisation reported that Ebola death toll has risen to 2,793 out of 5,762 cases in 5 countries of Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Senegal. Unlike other countries on the continent Malawi has been slow in putting measures to check the outbreak thereby triggering concerns that government was not doing anything to protect its citizens.

However, Mankhwala assured people that government, through the Ministry of Health, was doing everything possible to check the outbreak and the country’s possible exposure.

“All immigrants at the airports and other border posts are being screened but these illegal immigrants use uncharted routes where they are not screened. This is where the major threat is. They are not subjected to Ebola screening gadgets when they use the unchartered routes,” he said.

Mankhwala called on all Malawian to be patriotic and handle these illegal entrants with caution to avoid exposing the country to Ebola.

“If Malawi is going to get Ebola it will be through these illegal entrants. Refugees and asylum seekers go through proper scrutiny but these illegal immigrants do not,” he said.

Ebola is a viral illness that spreads between humans by direct contact with infected blood, bodily fluids or organs, or indirectly through contact with contaminated environments.

Even funerals of Ebola victims can be a risk, especially if mourners have direct contact with the body of the deceased.

With a constrained 2014/2015 budget which has resulted into a huge shortfall towards the health sector, many observers have warned that if the Ebola outbreak hits then it would be a disaster for the country.

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Bomanile
Bomanile
9 years ago

Malawians who connive with foreigners to assist them to enter the country better mind. At the same time, Malawi’s exposure is also exposure to the neighbours (Mozambique, Zambia and Tanzania). No one can enter the country without first entering one of these countries, unless they fly in. So exposure to Malawi could also be checked by the neighbours as they know letting an ebola infected person through their countries will also expose their own populations

Kantchowa
9 years ago

Tiyeni tiyikonde dziko lathu aMalawi.

Ayiwenpakulantanda
Ayiwenpakulantanda
9 years ago

You need Malawi Young Pioneers and Youth league – As was the case during the Kamuzu.
———MCP fanatic.

pido
9 years ago

Kodi tikati porous borders ndichimodzimodzi kuti unchartered routes? Our official borders are already porous and we know that. But some of our foolish politicians do not care about unchartered routes through which smuggling of humans and goods is a very simple task. For example during Bingu’s era, farm imputs subsidy was introduced. This made agricultural products such as maize, beans, ground nuts etc from Malawi to be cheaper in the whole of sadic region. Ndiye kunali smuggling mma border district onse a mMalawi muno. Gvt lost billions of kwachas in revenue collection. Both Malawians and foreigners adatola zikwama ndi chimanga… Read more »

Shepherrd
Shepherrd
9 years ago

More talk, no action! Thats what my toothless country does. We do not take into account that we survive on begging. The fact is that if the countries with resources are struggling that much, my poor Malawi will be brought on its knees. Tighten the border security. This threat can well be tackled by community policing.

jefferson sibeko
jefferson sibeko
9 years ago

achina malemu monte analememera mochititsa nyansi chifukwa cha business yomweyi!!!!!!!!!!

weddington kamanga
9 years ago

Nkhani yabwino,chofunikadi kuti apolice a owona za anthu olowa ndikutuluka aziwonesesa kuwopesa kulowesa anthu olakwoika omwe angathe kuzesa muliliwu wa EBOLA.
Nali vuto lalikulu apolice ambili amakonda kulowesa anthu olakwika chifukwa chamakobili(katangale)chonde amalawi tisaphese anthu chifukwa cha katangale mumabodamu.nthendayi ndiyowopya kwambili zedi.tiyeni tisamale malawi wathuyu.

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