2 February 2009
Since the outbreak of cholera in the province, we have as at 1 February
2009, 4 165 cases that have been seen in various health facilities in the
province. We have also reported 26 confirmed deaths thus far. The deaths were
reported in the following areas; Mbombela North - three; Thabachweu - one and
Bushbuckridge â twenty two.
The areas that are most affected are Mbombela North with 2 206 cases;
Bushbuckridge with 1 443; Mbombela south with 184; Nkomazi with 166, Thabachweu
with 161 and Umjindi with six cases.
The number of admitted people in hospital has declined and we now have only
15 people admitted; Matikwane hospital - six, Lydenburg hospital - two; Themba
hospital - one; Rob Ferreira - one; Sabie hospital â one; Shongwe hospital -
three and Barberton hospital - one.
Our teams remain on the ground and we are continuing with intensive mass
mobilisation and health education in all affected areas. We have up until now
reached 86 178 people, visited 7 061 household during our door to door
campaign; visited 63 schools to conduct health education; attended 44 funerals
and 20 churches for mass mobilisation. We have distributed over 32 795 stickers
and leaflets for health education and have distributed 5328 750ml of jik and 1
6643 sachets of chlo floc for water treatment in all affected areas.
"With all these interventions put in place, and more importantly with the
support from the community, we can indeed continue to bring down incidents of
cholera in our province. We are also humbled by the continued support we got
from national Department of health, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and
private sector organisations. We therefore call on our community to internalise
basic hygiene practices as a cornerstone for prevention of many communicable
diseases especially waterborne. We request everyone who suspects or experience
any vomiting or watery diarrhoea to without any delay report to the nearest
health facility for treatment. Let us all play our part in the prevention of
cholera," said MEC for Health in Mpumalanga, Mr Fish Mahlalela.
For more information contact:
Mpho Gabashane
Cell: 082 802 4937
Issued by: Department of Health, Mpumalanga Provincial Government
2 February 2009
