Cholera, malaria fears mount as thamalakane floods

BONIFACE KEAKABETSE
Correspondent | Monday June 27, 2011 00:00

Sections of the village have been without clean drinking water for a month with many turning to the untreated river water for their daily needs. Although many residents said they boil the water before drinking it, authorities have raised alarm that the shortage may lead to an outbreak of deadly water borne diseases like cholera. Children are sometimes spotted drinking directly from the river.

Some residents told The Monitor Tuesday that the water shortage has left them with no choice but to turn to the river for bathing. In his speech, North West District Council chairman, Tebogo Bethia called on the residents to adopt good 'hygienic practices to minimise risk of getting water borne diseases.  'Drinking untreated river water can result in an outbreak of water borne diseases such as cholera,' he said. Bethia said the flooding of Thamalakane further poses the risk of malaria outbreak. He said although numbers of malaria reported cases remain below epidemic threshold there is need for strengthened usage of mosquito nets by the community to prevent anopheles mosquito bites which cause the disease.

Councillor Galaletsang Mhapha of Kubung said his ward has been without water for almost a month. The councillor called on the department of water affairs to address the crisis. Speaking in an interview with The Monitor, Letsholathebe Hospital superintendent, Maxwell Mungisi, encouraged members of the community to visit health facilities promptly as soon as they experience any symptons related to water borne diseases. He said it is important that all safety precautions are followed before drinking water from the river as it may be contaminated.

However he said there is no need for panic. 'We just gave an example of cholera in the notes we gave to NWDC for the chairman's speech because it is one of the water borne diseases. There is no cholera,' he said.

By the time of writing, the department of water affairs in Maun was yet to address councillors on the ongoing water crisis. The Monitors attempts to get a comment from the department were also futile.