WHO AIDES GOVERNMENT IN CHOLERA BATTLE

 

By Queenter MawindaWorld Health Organisation (WHO) has come to the aide of the government as Ministry of Health and Social Welfare admits failure to contain cholera outbreak that has been speeding up its spread across the nation ever since the first case was reported in Dar es Salaam about  two weeks ago.

The  charity worth Sh40m in 100 cartons of  water guard and 100 litres of cresol saponated liquid (Lysol) was released on Friday, pending Sh160m in support of case management, laboratory services, surveillance and social mobilization activities to be issued later, at the time when cholera had spread to the Dar es Salaam neighbouring regions of Coast and Morogoro taking about 450 victims by Thursday, according to WHO representative Dr Rufaro Chatora.

Receiving the donation, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Donan Mbando said that by Thursday Dar es Salaam alone had registered 385 cholera cases that included 8 deaths while 60 cases were reported in Morogoro Region and 7 including one death in the Coast Regional capital of Kibaha.

It was not immediately established as to the actual death toll in Morogoro Region, but one cholera patient died when Morogoro had reported only 9 cases of cholera in the first week of the outbreak.

While the total figures include those who were discharged after treatment, Dr Mbambo said 74 patients were still undergoing treatment in quarantined camps in Mburahati, Temeke and Buguruni areas in Dar es Salaam alone.

But unofficial media reports said yesterday that the infection had tightened its grips in Dar es Salaam by Friday affecting new suburban areas of Boko and Bunju in Kinondoni Municipality.

Initially, Kinondoni Municipality reported a lion’s share in the disease outbreak, registering 292 cases followed by Ilala and Temeke Municipalities with 60 and 33 patients respectively.

“I’m wondering why the disease keeps on spreading as if the public is utterly ignorant of the ways to prevent it,” Mbando said, adding that the government was working out plans to open another special treatment camp in risky areas for easier public access.

He said his ministry will carry out inspection of hotels and restaurants in addition to the measures including ban on selling fresh food, fruits and  juice in public rally grounds already in effect.

The doctor also urged the public to observe health precautions by keeping their environment clean, boiling drinking water and maintaining hygiene in the use of toilets.
SOURCE: GUARDIAN ON SUNDAY