25 January 2008
Health Minister Barbara Hogan has highlighted a number of steps to contain
the outbreak of cholera across the country.
âI am very concerned about the increase in the number of cases but confident
in the ability of the Health Department to fight the disease,â the Minister
said.
From 15 November 2008 to 23 January 2009, 5 341 patients were diagnosed and
treated for cholera. Of this number, 34 people - a case fatality rate of 0.64
percent - died as a result of the disease.
Minister Hogan said âWhile any death from cholera is one death too many, the
low case fatality rate across the country reflects the quality of care that is
provided in most of our public health facilities.â
The majority of patients were diagnosed and treated in the Limpopo (2 834),
Mpumalanga (2 276) and Gauteng (201).
The remaining provinces have reported single-figure incidences of the
disease.
The prime cause of the cholera upsurge has been the contamination of water
sources and food by cholera bacteria. Poor hygiene and sanitation practices
have been contributing factors.
The spread of the infection from the north-east of the country has probably
been caused by the migration of cholera carriers from affected areas, as well
as by the lack of adequate water supplies and safe sanitation in certain
areas.
Hogan said âWhile the Department of Health is making every effort to contain
and stop the outbreak of the disease, the key task is to work with the relevant
water authorities to ensure improved access to clean water, in some parts of
our country, and in Zimbabwe.
"The Health Department regrets that, in some areas, the ambulance service
has not been providing a timeous service to those in need.
"The matter is receiving attention."
Hogan said that to prevent the further spread of disease, as well as further
loss of life, the Department of Health focused on the following:
* Has established a national cholera co-ordinating committee, with
participation from relevant United Nations (UN) agencies, international and
local non-governmental organisation (NGOs) and relevant government departments.
This committee has developed and implemented a national plan of action for the
control of cholera. This includes strengthening information, education and
communication (IEC) programmes to ensure an enhanced focus on good hygiene
practices (but it needs to also ensure that water and sanitation services are
adequately provided).
* Has sent trained cholera outbreak response teams to help the provincial
authorities in the worst affected districts in Limpopo and Mpumalanga.
* Is working with National Treasury and the Limpopo Department of Health to
secure additional funding for Limpopo to help it contain the disease.
* Is collaborating with other relevant departments to monitor water quality
to ensure safe water supplies and sanitation.
* Has approached the private health sector in a bid to generate additional
resources, including medical volunteers to help treat cholera victims.
* Has enlisted the help of the National Institute for Communicable Diseases
to review guidelines to ensure that it deals better with the current, and
indeed any future cholera outbreak. These guidelines are being distributed to
all provinces.
Hogan said âThe Department of Health gratefully acknowledges the efforts of
the Hospital Association of South Africa in setting up a cholera desk to assist
with the response to the outbreak of the disease.â
The department wishes to reiterate its messages with respect to the control
of the spread of cholera: hand washing, good sanitation practices, early
presentation to health facilities for anyone with watery and loose stools and
adequate hydration are keys to cholera control.
For more information contact:
Frew Benson
E-mail: bensonf@health.gov.za
Cell: 082 372 4199
Fidel Hadebe
E-mail: hadebef@health.gov.za
Cell: 079 517 3333
Ayesha Ismail
Cell: 079 498 2898
Issued by: Department of Health
25 January 2008
