27 Jun 2021

There is need for all government departments to share resources to help fight COVID-19 pandemic.

Addressing Kgalagadi District full council in Tsabong on Friday, Chairperson Mr Hendrick Jacobs, said that it was critical for departments and all sectors to prioritise COVID-19 response, adding that the District Health Management Team (DHMT) could not succeed alone, hence the need to share resources. 

He said lack of transport was a major impediment, emphasising that transport a crucial resource to ensure that every targeted individual was reached to get a dose.

Thus, he called for prioritising health and sharing of resources in the fight against coronavirus.

Mr Jacobs, said since the outbreak of COVID-19 the district had recorded 3, 491 positive cases cumulatively and 47 deaths in Kgalagadi North and South. 

“Most of the patients are on home isolation. Tsabong Isolation Centre has become a critical care unit for patients requiring close monitoring,” he said.

The increase in number of COVID-19 cases, he said, was primarily due to lack of compliance with COVID-19 protocols particularly poor social distancing where people continue to fail to observe social distancing at funerals, burials and social gatherings. 

Moreover, he said, some homesteads were overcrowded which could contribute to spreading of the virus. He added  that every individual had to do their part to control the spread of the virus.

Mr Jacobs said government continued to fight the pandemic by procuring vaccines and that vaccination was rolled out in March 2021 in the hardest hit areas while Kgalagadi district commenced on April.

He said, the district received AstraZeneca doses and so far  1 143 people had been vaccinated while 1 158 were vaccinated Sinovac which translated to 2 301 people vaccinated so far.

For his part, Kang north councillor Kemmonye Makatane called for increased doses of COVID-19 vaccination for the reason that the district has a population of about 60 000 people. 

He said the over 3 000 doses received were not enough to cover the population. He also decried  lack of compliance with health protocols in the district, which he said was rife in market spaces such as shops. He therefore called for strengthened law enforcement to curb the spread of the virus.

He highlighted that congestion of learners in classrooms posed a serious challenge as there were more cases recorded in schools. 

Kang Primary School had about 534 pupils with not enough classrooms to accommodate all learners. He appreciated government for responding to the need by constructing a classroom to ensure social distancing.

Draaihoek/Makopong Councillor, Mr Moses Chimbombi said COVID-19 required a multi-sectorial approach, calling for teamwork between departments in his ward to fight the pandemic.

Hukuntsi East councillor Kebaneilwe Mmesetse, also expressed concern at the surge of cases especially in schools.

She said more numbers were recorded in schools hence the need to treat teachers as frontline workers.

Ukhwi/Ngwatle/Zutshwa councillor Mr Onyaditswe Lucas equally expressed concern at the surge of COVID-19 cases that he said affected the development progress. 

Tsabong East Councillor, Mr Peter Megano said there was no power backup at the Tsabong Isolation Centre, which could pose serious challenges to patients on critical care at the center.

He called for a power back-up generator to ensure that the isolation center had adequate supply of electricity.

While Werda councillor, Mr Obokeng Maletsi, said there was no medical doctor in the Werda cluster, saying it was critical to have one for emergenices. Ends