19 Sep 2013

Indoor residual spraying of mosquitos should have more than 80 per cent coverage to be effective, says chairperson of the North West District Council, Mr Lathang Molonda.

Addressing a full council meeting this week, Mr Molonda attributed the increase in malaria cases at the beginning of this year to the fact that indoor residual spraying coverage last year was 58 per cent.

Mr Molonda said one of the reasons for low coverage by indoor residual spraying team was refusal by people to have their houses sprayed. He asked councilors to persuade their electorate to have their homes sprayed against the malaria-causing mosquito. This year’s indoor residual spraying campaign starts next month.

The council chairman also informed councilors that the Ministry of Health had decentralised blood donation service. Maun will be one of the new sites and a centre to collect blood will be set up Maun General Clinic (Old Maun Hospital). Initially, blood donation took place in Gaborone and Francistown.

He said the decentralization was prompted by shortage of blood at the blood bank, increasing number of women dying during delivery, high numbers of accidents resulting in victims needing transfusion, medical conditions such as anemia, heart operations and other surgeries.

He also informed the council about diarrhea outbreak, affecting children aged between six months and six years. The cases were reported in Maun and surrounding areas. Five children have since died. He added that the district health team was encouraging people to observe basic hygiene standards to prevent the diarrhea.

On other issues, Mr Molonda said the Gumare infrastructure development project, which includes construction of roads, bus rank with terminal building and associated storm water drainage, was complete and ready for take-over.

Despite the challenges encountered during implementation such as late acquisition of mining license and unavailability of suitable gravel base material, Mr Molonda said the project was completed within budget.

“You will agree with me that the development of this nature when carries out within built up area always causes damages to houses,” he said. “We have received 358 complainants and the contractor is currently addressing some of the complaints.”

Councillors were also updated on the protection zone fence which covers the Ngamiland Protection Zone along the Namibian border. The protection zone also runs north of the Phefodiafoka/Kuke cordon fence, thus enclosing all Hainaveld and new proposed ranches. Fencing was done in phases