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Dar cholera situation worsens
2006-01-06 09:23:51
By Guardian Correspondent
At least 40 people have contracted cholera in Dar es Salaam since the disease resurfaced in the city a week ago.
Gaston Makwembe, Dar es Salaam City Council (DCC) Public Relations Officer, said on Wednesday that the cases had been reported in various areas of the city.
He, however, singled out Buguruni, Tabata, Kigogo and Vingunguti as the worst hit areas. Buguruni had 17 patients as of Wednesday while Tabata, Kigogo and Vingunguti each reported three cases.
Other areas hit by the outbreak include Kitunda, Mchikichini, Ilala, Mabibo, Kinyerezi, Ukonga and Kiwalani.
Makwembe said these were the same areas where the most cases were reported whenever cholera broke out in the city, and attributed this to reluctance on the part of local residents to take simple preventive measures.
’These are high-risk areas and yet people still do not want to observe cleanliness. This is a deadly disease that can kill in a matter of minutes, but people are still not scared,’ he said.
Makwembe added that cholera would remain a permanent feature in some parts of Dar es Salaam unless people living in those areas changed and observed cleanliness.
’What’s so difficult about keeping your surroundings clean and washing your hands with soap before eating and after visiting the toilet? Why are people finding it virtually impossible to boil drinking water and eat hot and well-cooked meals?’ he asked.
In addition to educating the public on the importance of protecting themselves against the disease, DCC would enforce its by-laws on cleanliness as part of efforts to tackle the latest outbreak, Makwembe said.
’People found to be living in dirty surroundings face fines, jail terms or both,’ he added.
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