25 Sep 2024

Serowe District councillors have been informed that since the end of July, the district has experienced an increase in under-five diarrhoea cases, coinciding with an outbreak in Botswana.

To date, they have recorded 676 cases of diarrhoea without dehydration, 81 cases of diarrhoea with dehydration and six deaths among the under-fives, some of whom were brought in dead while others died in the hospital.

Councillors learnt this at the on-going district full council meeting held in Serowe on Monday addressed by the deputy council chairman, Mr. Bernard Kenosi.

Mr Kenosi said: “In response to the surge, we conducted testing for rota virus, which revealed that 62% of tested samples were positive. This suggests that rota virus, transmitted primarily through the faecal-oral route, may be a significant driver of the outbreak. This highlights the urgent need for improved hygiene practices within the community, particularly in the care of young children.”

He said all necessary medical commodities were available in health facilities and pharmacies, and they would continue to monitor stock levels closely. He pointed out that community sensitisation efforts have begun across the district through various forums to address this issue and promote better hygiene.

Regarding the Mpox situation, Mr Kenosi said Botswana had not reported any cases. He encouraged that they continue to conduct community sensitisation for all stakeholders and were preparing an isolation facility for any potential cases that might require hospitalisation as part of the district’s preparedness plan.

“In our efforts to increase access to health services and revitalize primary health care, I am pleased to announce that ART (Antiretroviral Therapy) services have been rolled out to the old Sekgoma Clinic since August 24, 2024. This clinic was previously the only facility not offering ART services. Currently, ART services are available on Thursdays, with plans to increase availability as the number of clients grows,” Mr Kenosi said.

He disclosed that the specialist Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) clinic had been relocated from Sekgoma Memorial Hospital to the old Sekgoma Clinic, enhancing their ability to provide specialised care.

Mr Kenosi said the Serowe District continued to enhance its waste management services across the district. The council established a robust system with intensive household collection in Serowe and centralised waste collection on the outskirts.

Six local companies were engaged to service 2,575 households within Serowe, at a total investment of P2 million. Sixteen donkey carts, costing P300 000, were employed for waste collection in rural villages. 

The council has also outsourced critical waste management areas, including daily litter picking at the bus/taxi rank and along four major roads.

“Despite these efforts, we face ongoing challenges with illegal dumping and indiscriminate littering, which are criminal offences under the Waste Management Act,” Mr Kenosi stated.

To address this, he said the council launched ‘Operation Tsokotsa’, involving after-hours monitoring of highways and hot spots, resulting in fines and apprehensions of offenders. He urged the public to pay for waste collection services at the Council Revenue Office and to avoid polluting the environment.

Mr Kenosi said the monthly community-led clean-up campaigns contributed significantly to cleanliness, earning Serowe District the second place in the national cleanest district competition held during the first year anniversary of the Mind-Set Change Commemoration in Seronga.

He said the landfill has faced significant challenges due to frequent breakdowns of plant and machinery and low funding. This has resulted in pollution risks, including groundwater contamination, fire outbreaks, and pest breeding. In light of this challenge, he pointed out that the council has proposed the privatisation of the landfill facility, and terms of reference for this process are currently being developed.

He said to ensure food hygiene and safety, the council inspected over 108 food establishments to ensure compliance with the Food Control Act and the Public Health Act. More than 95 per cent of businesses complied with regulations. ENDS