Cholera: War continues unabated

Cholera spreads fast, with the most vulnerable being people living in congested dwellings in slums, where a high standard of hygiene is difficult to maintain.

Indeed the disease could spread to other counties if the public does not uphold a high standard of hygiene.

Interestingly, this disease is easy to control, but remains a grave threat. In this day and age, who does not know that it is important to wash hands before eating or to avoid eating in places that lack basic sanitation?

Medical supplies have been sent to various regions whenever there is an outbreak of the disease, but most important are preventive measures, including public sensitisation on its control.

It also calls for an investment in improved sanitation, especially in crowded neighbourhoods in the towns and rural areas.

We are once again saddened to hear that a fresh cholera outbreak has already killed eight people out of 172 cases in four regions, with Mara and Morogoro leading in the number of those affected.

Ministry for Health, Social Welfare, Gender, Elderly and Children, this week said in a statement that the epidemic had erupted again.

According to the minister, from October 31 to November 6, 2016 there were 172 cases of people suffering from the disease, whereby four have died in Morogoro within the same period.
There were 83 victims of the disease in Kilosa, 27 in Tarime, 13 in Rorya, 25 in Dodoma with one death and 21 victims in Buhigwe Kigoma as well as three deaths and two victims in Ubungo.

“In May, this year, the disease seemed to have been controlled in all regions except for Morogoro and Mara. Between May and September the explosion of the disease was destined to fade where very few patients were reported in a few district councils including Kilosa, Morogoro, Rorya and Tarime.

The ministry further points out that the increase of the spread was due to poor participation from relevant sectors and stakeholders in both regional and district levels, saying there was no access to accurate records of patients… there is also poor sanitation in terms of low latrine coverage and use of pit toilets as well as low level of access to safe water in the communities.

We believe that controlling cholera would be effective through collaborating with the local community and to follow guidelines provided by a competent authority such as councils, regions and the ministry.

Cholera statistics indicate that up to November 6, there were a total of 22,990 patients suffering from the outbreak, 355 of whom died.

WHO’s update on the ongoing outbreak of cholera says as of 20 April 2016, a total of 24,108 cases, including 378 deaths, had been reported nationwide. The majority of these cases had been reported from 23 regions in mainland Tanzania (20,961 cases, including 329 deaths).

We urge the health sector to seriously focus on the following interventions: mobilizing communities to promote personal hygiene, safe water and good sanitation; distributing chlorine for household water treatment and safe storage; conducting routine water sampling and laboratory analysis for contamination; and strengthening of case management in treatment centers and risk management during burial of deceased cholera patients.