Food shortages hit S/Phikwe schools

ONALENNA MODIKWA
Staff Writer | Thursday August 30, 2012 00:00

 

This has prompted councillors to resolve to call the Minister of Local Government Lebonaamang Mokalake to come and address them on the way forward.

District officer, development, Letlhogonolo Nkolane had highlighted in his Urban Development Committee report that there was insufficient supply of sorghum meal and ultra heat-treated milk while beans were reported to be out of stock.

He called on the council to intervene in the matter. The report recommended that a way forward be sought from the Finance and Procurement Department in the Ministry of Local Government as it has been failing to ensure adequate supply of food commodities to the district.

'I support the suggestion to call the minister here to explain why funds cannot be disbursed to the council for the feeding programme,' said councillor Molefhe Molatlhegi.

 Nkolane further revealed that a total of 34 projects were approved for the first phase of the Alternative Package Programme (APP) in Selebi-Phikwe and 22 places of operation were identified and approved.  Beneficiaries for 11 projects are still looking for places of operation while one project was relocated to the Women's Affairs Department.  Of all the 22 projects materials and equipment for 18 projects have been purchased.

Beneficiaries of the remaining four projects are still looking for quotations. A team has been put in place to conduct weekly visitations to projects to keep track of materials and equipment purchased for beneficiaries as well as to establish challenges experienced by beneficiaries and assist them accordingly. 

While councillors appreciated the good intentions of the APP, they expressed the need for the council to remove some bottlenecks in its by-laws to enable beneficiaries to progress. They said sometimes the council made demands that at the end of the day defeated the good intentions of the programme.

They also called on the council to open stalls for use by the programme's beneficiaries to ensure that they are not hampered by lack of places of operation. Meanwhile, the district officer here said the diarrhoea outbreak  that claimed the lives of seven infants under the age of five has been put under control.

He said the diarrhoea started in July this year and 222 cases were recorded in four weeks. Daily epidemic rapid response team meetings are held to set strategies and sensitise the community on personal hygiene, and vaccination is ongoing.

Oral rehydration salts are being distributed at household level and health facilities  to prevent dehydration.Nkolane added that the outbreak is currently under control with a few dehydrated children attending health facilities. He added that active surveillance has been intensified to keep the outbreak under control.