05 Nov 2017

Head of Moshupa District Management Health Team (DHMT), Dr Malebogo Rauwe says one person has died while two are being treated for Malaria in Moshupa.

In an interview on November 2, Dr Rauwe said there had been three reported cases of Malaria in the area.

He said they received a report from one of their facilities on October 24 that a 16-year-old boy of Diratsame Junior Secondary School in Moshupa had been admitted due to some illness.

He said the patient was later transferred to Kanye Seventh-Day Adventist Hospital where he was diagnosed with Malaria.

Dr Rauwe said after ascertaining that it was Malaria, a follow-up was made at his home where tests were conducted on other family members and that his 85-year-old grandmother and a six-year-old girl were also found infected.

He said the infections were later confirmed by the Kanye Seventh-Day Adventist Hospital.

Dr Rauwe explained that the old woman, who had other health conditions including hypertension and diabetes, could not fight the infection and passed away.

He said the other two patients were discharged, explaining that they were being monitored and treated at home.

He said they screened the local area from where they stayed as well as the boy’s classmates, adding that all the results were negative.

Dr Rauwe explained that Moshupa was not a malaria prone area, adding that they worked tirelessly to find out how malaria got in the area.

He said they suspect that malaria was transmitted by someone who visited Moshupa as all the three patients had not travelled to Malaria endemic areas where they could have contracted the infection.

Dr Rauwe further noted that the national laboratory had been notified of the situation, adding that they were working hand in hand to control the situation.

He said all health institutions across the country have been directed to perform tests on any patient who might show any symptoms of Malaria.

He said the community was also being educated about Malaria through various media, and urged the public to visit health facilities if they suspect any symptoms of Malaria. ENDS