26 Aug 2014

Maun Administration Authority council chairman, Mr Galaletsang Mhapha says the Ngamiland region is on high alert following the outbreak of Ebola in some African countries.


Speaking during a full council meeting on August 25, Mr Mhapha said the Ministry of Health had facilities at the Maun International Airport to monitor international travellers.
 He said although there had not been any Ebola reported cases in the country, that did not reduce the seriousness of the disease.


Mr Mhapha said all non-citizens who had evidence of coming from affected countries were barred from entering Botswana while locals who travelled to the affected countries were closely monitored for signs of the Ebola virus. 


He also said there was a ban for Batswana who wanted to travel to the four affected countries of Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.
 He said a quarantine centre had been erected at Matshwane Clinic in Boseja ward for suspected cases and added that if there were suspected cases of people quarantined at the clinic, the public would be informed and the Matshwane Clinic would be closed from the general public.


Meawhile, Mr Mhapha said there was concern about the influx of illegal fishermen at Lake Ngami in Sehithwa due to lucrative markets in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mr Mhapha said the fishermen were causing problems of pollution and sanitation since there were no ablutions at their squatter camps.


He said as such there was conflict between farmers in the area and fishermen, with the former saying they feared this would result in livestock and human diseases. Ends