Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa says the government is committed to ending the cholera outbreak and ensuring access to safe water for all citizens.
Ramaphosa said this in his weekly newsletter.
He said that the recent outbreaks of cholera in Hammanskraal, Gauteng, and in the Free State have highlighted the importance of effective water and wastewater management.
The president expressed his condolences to those affected and acknowledged the role of poor governance, weak management, and infrastructure maintenance in exacerbating disease outbreaks.
“Disease outbreaks such as the cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal are made far worse in situations of poor governance, weak management and poor maintenance of infrastructure. We have a responsibility and are determined to remedy those shortcomings in a sustainable way and as a matter of urgency,” he said.
He said that authorities have taken steps to assist the affected communities, including setting up a field hospital and raising awareness about hygiene.
Disease outbreaks such as the cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal are made far worse in situations of poor governance, weak management and poor maintenance of infrastructure. We have responsibility – and are determined – to remedy those shortcomings in a sustainable way and as a… pic.twitter.com/GNPeAOsnev
— Cyril Ramaphosa ?? (@CyrilRamaphosa) May 29, 2023
“An investigation is underway into the source of the outbreak. Technical teams from the City of Tshwane, the Department of Water and Sanitation, and the national and provincial Departments of Health are carrying out water quality tests at distribution points and at water treatment works in the area. They are also tracking and tracing infections.
“To date, the original source of the cholera infection has not been located. However, this waterborne disease is highly transmissible in conditions where there is inadequate access to clean water and sanitation facilities,” Ramaphosa said.
The Gauteng health department said on Sunday that the number of people who had succumbed to cholera in Hammanskraal had increased to 23.
Since 15 May, a total of 229 patients have been treated at Jubilee District Hospital.
“The number includes 23 patients transferred to other Tshwane-based hospitals. In the past few days, fewer patients have presented at health facilities with symptoms of diarrhoeal disease.
“The number of laboratory-confirmed cases of cholera seen at the hospital is 48. To date, 23 people have, unfortunately, passed on from the disease outbreak,” News24 quoted Gauteng health department’s spokesperson, Motalatale Modiba, as saying.
He said as of Saturday, there were 77 patients admitted for the disease.
According to Times Live, Modiba said as part of efforts to manage the bacterial disease, the government has set up a field hospital in Kanana.
“The six temporary tents have been set up to immediately attend to people presenting with symptoms of dehydration, as vomiting and diarrhoea eliminate water from the body. In this temporary hospital, patients are either given oral hydration or intravenous hydration on the spot, and the most critical patients are immediately taken to hospitals in Tshwane for further management and admission,” Modiba said.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
