Snl24 | Task team established to fight bilharzia outbreak!

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Acting Premier and MEC Basikopo Makamu announced a task team to contain the bilharzia outbreak in the Mopani District.

THE Limpopo Provincial Government has established a task team to co-ordinate efforts to contain the bilharzia outbreak.  

The task team will provide medical care to affected individuals and prevent further spread of the disease in the Mopani District.  

This comes after the outbreak significantly impacted areas such as Nkowankowa, Khujwana, and Dan villages in the district, affecting 155 people. 

Of the affected individuals, 142 are pupils from Malwandla Primary School who are currently receiving anti-parasitic treatment.  

The rapid spread of the infection has raised serious concerns about health and safety in the affected communities. 

Acting Premier and Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta) MEC Basikopo Makamu said they have been alerted to the bilharzia outbreak in several areas in the Greater Tzaneen Local Municipality in the Mopani District. 

“The task teams include representatives from the Office of the Premier, health, education, and Coghsta departments, Mopani District, Greater-Giyani, Greater-Tzaneen, Greater-Letaba and Ba-Phalaborwa Local municipalities,” Makamu said. 

“We urge all residents in the affected areas to exercise extreme caution, avoid direct contact with potentially contaminated water sources, and seek medical attention if one exhibits any signs of illness. Our priority is to contain this outbreak and protect the health of our communities.” 

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Makamu urged residents in the affected areas to refrain from swimming in rivers, streams, or other potentially contaminated water sources.  

He also advised that water used for drinking should be boiled or properly treated before use. 

“Parents and guardians are urged to closely monitor their kids for any bilharzia symptoms and seek immediate medical attention,” he said. 

Makamu added that efforts are made to address the health crisis. 

Health MEC Dieketseng Mashego led a team of healthcare professionals at Thabina Primary School in Ga-Mogoboya Village, outside Tzaneen, on Tuesday, 10 September.  

This was part of an intensified school health programme aimed at screening, testing, and treating kids for bilharzia. 

“Testing and treating of bilharzia is important. It’s even more important to prevent it by avoiding coming into contact with unclean water.” 

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