Malawian gov't bans handshaking amid conjunctivitis outbreak

STORY: Malawian gov't bans handshaking amid conjunctivitis outbreak SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 29, 2024 DATELINE: March 3, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:58 LOCATION: Lilongwe CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of Zomba district hospital 2. Malawi Minister of Health Chiponda inside the facility 2. Malawi Minister of Health Chiponda meeting eye patients 3. SOUNDBITE (English): KHUMBIZE KANDODO CHIPONDA, Malawi Minister of Health 4. various of medical personnel STORYLINE: Malawi's Health Ministry has directed the public to stop handshaking, among other unhygienic practices, to avoid the spread of conjunctivitis after the country has registered over 370 cases since January. Issuing the directive on Thursday, Health Minister Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda said the outbreak, first reported in the northern border district of Karonga, has now spread to other districts. The minister said the disease, also known as pink eye, transmits rapidly due to poor hygiene. SOUNDBITE (English): KHUMBIZE KANDODO CHIPONDA, Malawi Minister o

Flash floods leave one dead, thousands displaced in Malawi

STORY: Flash floods leave one dead, thousands displaced in Malawi SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 28/29, 2024 DATELINE: March 2, 2024 LENGTH: 0:00:41 LOCATION: Lilongwe CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of floods 2. various of people at a school camp STORYLINE: Flash floods have devastated two lakeshore districts of Malawi -- Nkhotakota in the central region and Karonga in the northern region, leaving one dead and thousands displaced, authorities have confirmed. The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) announced Thursday that the floods have displaced more than 7,000 people from Nkhotakota alone, and the displaced have been evacuated to nine camps in the district. DoDMA also confirmed one death and reported that 900 people who were trapped in various areas have been rescued by the national search and rescue team led by the Malawi Defense Force (MDF). Meanwhile, the search and rescue team is ferrying relief items, including maize flour and tents, as well as medical personnel and supplies/equip