02 Apr 2017

About 905 cases of Malaria and five deaths have been reported in the Okavango District following heavy rainfalls in the past months.

Dr Alex Kalondji from the Gumare District Health Management Team (DHMT) said in an interview during the Malaria cleanup launch , that Shakawe was the most affected village, with about 86 Malaria patients.

“There are about 22 complicated cases and those patients are under extra care at the Gumare Hospital. The DHMT team is doing all it can to ensure that more lives are not lost,” he said.

He said the overall spraying for mosquitoes in the district stood at 76 per cent as the spraying process started in November last year rather than September as it was the case in the previous years.

Dr Kalondji called on the public to take all preventive measures and put into good use the mosquito nets distributed.

He also urged them to clean their surroundings and cut long grass which might attract mosquitoes.

The Assistant District Commissioner, Mr Thabang Waloka said they launched the cleanup campaign in Shakawe, after realising that statistics of patients were increasing.

He encouraged residents to always put on protective clothing and to use other old traditional techniques such as cow dung to scare mosquitoes away.

Kgosi Kea Lempadi called on the residents to keep their surroundings clean by removing grass in their compounds.

“I urge all to use mosquito nets, to protect yourselves and please allow your houses to be sprayed,”he said.

Kgosi Lempadi said expectation was that after the cleanup campaigns in Shakawe, other villages will also take preventive measures.

He also urged residents to visit the clinic whenever they experienced signs that might be of the Malaria. ENDS