19 Mar 2020

Palapye Sub-district Development Committee has warned residents of the area to be cautious about the Coronavirus.

In a meeting on Tuesday, the sub-district head of preventative services under the District Health Management Team (DHMT) Dr Onai Diura-Vere explained that two suspected people who were reported in Palapye recently had been sent to Sir Ketumile Teaching Hospital for isolation and further tests to be undertaken to determine if their signs and symptoms were those of the virus.

She said the district response plan and precautionary measures had been set up to prevent the spread of the virus if found, saying there were also measures in place to alert authorities, district committees, health facilities, traditional doctors and DHMTs about the virus.

She said community sensitisation about the deadly virus, health education, and social mobilisation to take precautions would be extended to schools, workplaces, malls and to the general public.

Dr Diura-Vere indicated that strategies of active search, contact tracing and follow up of suspected infections of the disease and an evacuation plan of all suspected cases to the isolation place had been put in place in case of a breakout. 

She  mentioned that currently there was a functional isolation point at Old Sekgoma Hospital in Serowe,  adding that the DHMT in Palapye was in the process of establishing an Isolation and treatment centre.

She said all suspected cases must be investigated and confirmed cases immediately reported.

Some of the challenges that could be experienced, she said included high influx of travellers from affected areas into the country such as experts that work with the Morupule Mine, Morupule Power Stations and Botswana Power Corporation.

Further, the Extension 11 isolation point was temporarily abandoned due to high renovation requirements for the facility to meet infection control standards.

Dr Diura-Vere indicated that training for key health personnel was being conducted and cascading was ongoing to handle the disease accordingly. 

She said a 14-day isolation for monitoring of travellers from affected countries would also take place and law enforcement officers would be engaged where necessary to ensure proper quarantining. 

In addition, an establishment of a call centre to respond to the general public was on cards.

Dr Diora-Vere mentioned that Botswana Tourism Organisation would be engaged to strengthen infection control practices in lodges, hotels and guest houses.

The doctor also noted that shortage of transport in the sub- district was also a challenge and would be a setback in case of a break out. 

She went on to request other government departments to assist with transport and called on health workers to support the DHMT in the fight against the virus.

Senior assistant council secretary Mr Lucky  Maoto called on civil servants to take Coronavirus serious as it had been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation. 

He explained that President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi had also called on the country to apply preventative measures and be prepared to respond accordingly if any outbreak took place.

The deputy district commissioner Mr Jane Moruti also shared the same views and urged all government departments to have an input in the fight. 

He said departments must avail transport to support the fight against the disease in case of a breakout.   He also called on civil servants to create awareness about the virus while calling on residents to consider reducing public gatherings such as in stadiums, funerals, and weddings, among other occasions until further notice. 

He called civil servants and the public to exercise preventative measures such frequent washing of hand using soap and water and applying sanitisers. 

Also, the department of Environmental Health has been requested to provide civil servants with free sanitisers. 

In the meantime, events that attracted large numbers of  people in the sub-district had been  suspended until further notice. Ends