The government has spent over 1bn/- to contain cholera since its outbreak six months ago, Minister for Health, Community Development, Gender, the Elderly and Children, Ummy Mwalimu, revealed yesterday.
Responding to a question asked by journalists during a press conference at the Parliament grounds, she said the Treasury released 900m/- to help curb the epidemic that is still haunting the country.
“The disease has cost the government over 1bn/- with 900m/- coming directly from the Treasury while the remaining amount came from the local government authorities (LGA) at their own areas,” she said.
The minister noted that the amount could have been spent on other development projects if only members of the public could ensure proper hygienic standard at their residences.
However she noted that the rate of infection of the disease that has claimed many lives in the country has been reduced by 16 percent in the past one week as some areas have not reported new cases.
The minister said according to official statistics, some 14,608 cholera cases and 228 deaths were recorded, adding that only Njombe, Ruvuma and Mtwara have not reported any cases since the outbreak in August last year.
Issuing weekly reports for the period 18 to 24 this month, she said 15 regions in the country have recorded cholera cases with reduction of ten patients from the number reported last week.
There are currently 524 cholera patients with ten deaths in the country compared to 621 patients and 14 deaths reported last week.
Morogoro Region is still leading with the number of cholera cases as Morogoro Municipality reported 89 cases, Morogoro District 36 and Mvomero 17.
Mwanza Region follows with Ukerewe 36 cases, Nyamagana 19 and Ilemela 13. Simiyu Region comes third with Bariadi District Council 29 and Bariadi Municipality 23.
Manyara is next with Simanjiro having 48 patients. Mara Region comes sixth with Musoma Municipality 11, Musoma District Council 8, Rorya 8, and Butiama 8.
In Geita, Geita District Council has 21 cases and Geita Town Council 6.
In Mbeya Region, Kyela has 26 cases while in Dodoma Region 22 cases were recorded. Arusha Region has 21, Tabora 18, Singida 18, Lindi 12, Rukwa 7, Kilimanjaro 6 and Kagera 2.
The minister noted that laxity among authorities and officials, lack of public awareness creation on the disease surveillance and control also add weight on the disease outbreak.
“The government is keenly watching regional and district health officers who despite having received money to help control the disease, their areas still record new cases,” she said, adding that disciplinary measures are likely to be taken against them.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO), Cholera which is spread by contaminated water and food, causing severe diarrhea is triggered by poor water supply as well as inadequate drainage and sewerage infrastructures.
Cholera which has since remained a common persistent infectious disease in the country was first reported in Tanzania in 1974.
From 1977, cases were reported each year with a case fatality rate ranging between 1.8 per cent and 11.4 per cent.
The first major cholera outbreak occurred in 1992 when 18,526 cases and 2,173 deaths were recorded. In 1997, an epidemic that started as the end of January in Dar es Salaam accounted for 40,249 cases and 2,231 deaths.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
TEMBELEA www.ajiratz.info/ KWA HABARI ZA UHAKIKA
Post a Comment