25 Sep 2018

One person is reported to have died in the Ngamiland District diarrhoea outbreak with 200 cases recorded so far.

Council chairperson Mr Duncan Enga said diarhoea broke out in the district the week of September 10.

Updating councillors on health issues, Mr Enga said it had been established that most cases were from Maun and affected mostly children below the age of three.

He also said there was a Scabies outbreak in the Kareng catchment area affecting pupils accommodated in the Kareng Rural Area Dwellers hostel.

The meeting learnt that the outbreak was preceded by a similar one experienced  at Somelo.

Mr Enga said the district had since activated its rapid response team for both issues and that the District Health Management Team (DHMT) would continually monitor the situation.

DHMT, he said, had appealed to the public to ensure a clean safe environment and optimal hygiene practices especially when handling food as a preventative measure.

The chairperson also informed councillors about new initiatives aimed at tackling malaria in the district.

The district is one of the six malaria endemic areas and fully engaged in the elimination activities. During the 2017/18 transmission season, the district recorded a total of 60 cases with the last registered in April 2018.

The new initiative, Community Acting Together to Eliminate Malaria (CATTEM), puts emphasis on local leadership in implementation of public health intervention at community level and is currently being piloted at Sehithwa and Khwai villages.

Councillors were also informed that the transmission season’s activities had started and the district would continue with indoor residual spraying in all villages.

Mr Enga said Maun and Phuduhudu had been excluded and extensive education on self-care would be carried out as a counter measure.

On the issue of drug shortage at facilities, he said the Ministry of Health and Wellness continued to acknowledge the crisis explaining that the class of drugs which were continually out of stock included those classified as supplements.

The ministry, he said was in the process of aligning its processes to address both the supply chain and information availability for forecasting.

Further, Mr Enga said a project was being piloted to partner with private sector in dispensing medication for chronic illnesses. It is being piloted at Princess Marina.

Lack of critical specialists such as a surgeon was limiting the Letsholathebe II Memorial Hospital to deliver optimal care and at the same time putting a strain on the transportation of patients on referral. Councillors expressed appreciation for the allocation of  an orthopaedic surgeon to the hospital.

Meanwhile, the hospital awaits the arrival of a general surgeon.  In addition, the ministry is in the process of recruiting both DHMT and hospital leadership.

Mr Enga said the Ministry of Health and Wellness was also in the process of restructuring as part of decentralising services and revitalising primary health care through strengthening of DHMTs. ENDS