Ancient Disease Resurfaces In Francistown

Lebogang Mosikare | Monday June 27, 2016 15:08

According to a communication from the office of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Francistown East Buti Billy, bilharzia has infected 14 students from Selepa Junior Secondary School and Maradu and Satellite Primary Schools.

“It has been brought to this office’s attention by the District Health Management Team (DHMT) coordinator of the Great Francistown Area that 14 children have tested positive to the bilharzia,” saidthe communication.

DHMT, according to the communication, has since lined up a number of public awareness campaigns to the affected schools in order to educate the public about the disease.

Added the communication: “...we advise parents not to allow their children to swim or paddle in those ponds...”

The coordinator of DHMT Dr Gobezie Solomon confirmed the matter. He however could not elaborate on the issue because he said he was in a meeting.

“We are currently collecting information,” said Solomon. The city clerk Lebuile Israel’s phone rang answered as he was also said to be attending the same meeting with Solomon ththat was discussing the bilharzia. The chairperson of the Francistown City Council (FCC) health and education committee, councillor Joe Gunda also confirmed the matter, but said he was constrained to comment because he was outside Francistown and only learnt about the matter over the radio. Efforts to reach Minister of Health (MoH) Dorcas Makgatho did not bear any fruit since the person who answered her phone said she was addressing a Kgotla meeting while his deputy Dr Alfred Madigele’s phone rang unanswered.