The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, will on Monday, 5 October 2009, take the government's H1N1 influenza A public education campaign to Westville Prison and the Pavilion Shopping Mall.
This is the continuation of the government's commitment to educate the public on ways to (i) prevent the spread of the influenza A virus, (ii) take care of the sick, (iii) advise pregnant women and people with underlying conditions such as heart, lung diseases and those with low immunities including people with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
The Department of Health views this public education campaign as assisting in the prevention of a number of other communicable diseases. These include Tuberculosis (TB), cholera, and the recent reported outbreak of measles in the province. The recent number of infected persons, according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), in the province has reached 2008 with 17 deaths confirmed by the NICD.
"Proper hygiene is important to disease prevention. This we were taught at very low grades in schools but as we grow up we tend to be very lax about these basic things. Informing and educating people on proper ways to cough can help in preventing the spread of diseases such as TB. In children it can prevent the spread of measles which is spread via from the nose, mouth or throat of infected persons.
The washing of hands is very important to prevent the outbreaks such as cholera from reoccurring again. It is for these reasons that we will continue to vigorously educate the public in every corner of the province. We have the support of our partners from Dettol which kills 99,9% of germs," says the MEC for Health in KwaZulu-Natal, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo.
The media is invited to join the MEC at Westville Prison and Pavilion Shopping Malls.
Date: 5 October 2009
Time: 14h00 (Westville Prison, Recreation Hall) and 15h15 (Pavilion Shopping Mall)
Photo opportunities and one-on-one interview will be available.
Enquiries:
Mr Mic Maxon
Tel: 033 395 3130
Fax: 033 342 0429
Cell: 083 285 0567
E-mail: chris.maxon@kznhealth.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Health, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
2 October 2009
