PHUTI MOSOMANE
GAUTENG Health MEC, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, has announced that a cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal has resulted in the deaths of 10 people.
The Gauteng Department of Health confirmed the outbreak in the City of Tshwane on Sunday.
The outbreak was identified after laboratory tests on stool specimens from 19 individuals who had presented at Jubilee District Hospital with symptoms such as diarrhea, stomach cramps, and nausea.
These tests confirmed that the cause of the symptoms was cholera.
According to the Water and Sanitation authorities, the outbreak in Hammanskraal is a direct consequence of malfunctioning and insufficient wastewater treatment facilities.
The first case of cholera was reported in February and since then, a total of 95 people from various areas including Kanana, Suurman, Majaneng, Green Field, Carousel View, Lephengville, and Sekampaneng have sought medical attention at the hospital due to similar symptoms.
As of Sunday, May 21, 2023, there have been 19 new confirmed cases of cholera in Hammanskraal, resulting in 10 deaths.
Currently, there are 37 individuals admitted to the hospital exhibiting symptoms of cholera, including a 3-year-old child and 9 adults who unfortunately lost their lives.
In response to the outbreak, Nkomo-Ralehoko, accompanied by Rina Marx, the City of Tshwane MMC for Health, visited the hospital on Sunday to assess the situation and take immediate action to enhance the response capacity at Jubilee Hospital.
The Department has allocated two additional wards to accommodate patients who cannot be immediately admitted upon arrival at the hospital.
“We have also mobilised additional resources which include medical and nursing staff from surrounding hospitals and local clinics to improve capacity for the growing need for medical care. Furthermore, additional linen has been delivered from the provincial laundry to activate the extra beds,” said Nkomo-Ralehoko.
She urged the public to take extra precautionary measures and maintain proper hand- hygiene.
“We would like to reiterate and urge the public to avoid known or suspected contaminated food, water and surfaces and wash hands thoroughly with soap before handling food or after using the bathroom to prevent possible infection. It is also important that people never drink water from unsafe sources such as rivers, dams, streams, unless boiled or disinfected,” said Nkomo-Ralehoko.
The City of Tshwane has issued a notice urging the communities of Hammanskraal not to consume tap water due to safety concerns. To address the situation, water tankers have been provided to the hospital and surrounding areas.
Furthermore, the Department has collaborated with the National departments of Water and Sanitation and Human Settlements to enhance the municipality’s water infrastructure and address related issues.
If individuals experience symptoms such as diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, or signs of dehydration, they are advised to seek medical attention at their nearest health facilities for prompt treatment.
Marx said that the City of Tshwane will mobilize additional resources, including social workers, to offer counselling and social relief to the affected families.
The public is urged to exercise increased vigilance in the upcoming days while multiple stakeholders from different levels of government work together to contain the spread of the Cholera outbreak.
In response to the service delivery issues, the EFF in Tshwane has called upon the DA-led government to be more transparent and accountable.
“Access to clean water is a basic human right and it is unacceptable that residents of Hammanskraal continue to suffer from water shortages and contamination. The EFF’s calls for accountability and action is an important step towards addressing this critical issue,” said EFF’s Obakeng Ramabodu.
Over 1.1 billion people are affected by the devastating rise of cholera outbreaks around the world.
UNICEF said it is delivering vaccines to the children who need them most, with the goal to make sure cholera is no longer a public health threat.
The UN agency called on affected governments and the international community to urgently respond to this devastating upsurge and also invest in climate-resilient infrastructure for a healthy future.
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