CHOLERA, still a devastating health problem here, overshadowed Malaria issue at the gathering to mark ‘World Malaria Day’ as the Second Vice-President, Ambassador Mr Seif Ali Iddi, has warned traders defying ban of selling fresh food on the streets.
Zanzibar has by recorded more than three
thousand cholera cases and at 43 deaths since the outbreak last
September, but more cases this month (April), with average of 20 people
daily.
Speaking at Maisara Grounds in the
municipality, after a two-kilometre procession to mark the ‘World
Malaria Day,’ Ambassador Iddi said some traders were stubborn as they
defied government’s directive to stop selling fresh foodstuffs in
unhealthy places. “We will punish traders defying the ban.
Our intention is to contain the outbreak
and not stopping people from getting engaged in economic activities. We
love you all, that is why we do not want to lose you because of
cholera,” Ambassador Iddi said at the Malaria Day gathering.
Health officers in the islands say that
they were almost overwhelmed by big number of cholera patients,
particularly in the last two days prompting the increase of medical
staffs to handle them.
The Director of Prevention, Dr Mohamed
Dahoma, said impromptu checks by members of the anti-cholera committee
found various fresh foodstuffs still being sold to members of the public
in filthy conditions without considering the pandemic’s outbreak.
He urged the public to be cautious over
the outbreak as awareness campaigns continue through electronic and
print, and mobile phones, reminding people “to follow hygienically
system, wash hands with soap after visiting toilets and before eating,
and only use safe water, either treated by water-guard or boiled.”
Speaking about malaria, the Second VP
said that despite admirable achievements in controlling malaria in the
past ten years, people should know that the problems still exist while
efforts to combat it must continue.
“Kindly continue supporting government
efforts by accepting house to be sprayed, keep the surroundings clean
and using treated mosquito nets, particularly people who frequently
travel because statistics indicate that malaria is spotted in areas with
people who travel regularly.”
Zanzibar is targeting to eliminate
malaria by 2020, but the Second VP says given more commitment, the goal
can be achieved earlier before the year.
Malaria prevalence now stands at 0.5 per
cent while the target is to decrease to 0.05 per cent, the Principal
Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Juma Malik Akili, says.
The World Malaria Day is marked annually
every April 25, but health officers here opted to mark it yesterday
because of the busy schedule today.
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