Tarime launches vigorous drive to contain cholera

AMBROSE WANTAIGWA in Tarime

MARA Regional Commissioner (RC), Mr Magesa Mulongo (left), signs a visitor’s book when he visited Tarime District Commissioner’s office during a familiarisation tour recently. Right is his host, Tarime District Commissioner, Mr Glorius Luoga. (Photo by Mugini Jacob)

TARIME District authorities have instituted strong measures to contain an outbreak of cholera in the area.

The measures include banning the sale of foodstuffs in unhygienic conditions as well as supervising the compulsory construction of latrines in every household.

The move, according to Tarime District Commissioner (DC), Glorious Luoga move follows a recent outbreak of the disease which has killed one person leaving 105 others admitted at the District Hospital.

“We have decided to involve the public in the cleanliness campaign to meet the three-weeks deadline issued by Mara Regional Commissioner (RC), Magesa Mulongo to combat the disease,” he said.

Luoga, who also participated in the cleanliness drive at the Tarime bus stand over the week, said apart from issuing orders to people to clean their surroundings, district authorities have also formulated by-laws to punish people found with dirty premises.

Any person, for example, found violating health regulations would be fined 50,000/-. A team of health experts recently revealed that more than 230 households in the district have no latrines as people relieve themselves in the bush, a situation which fuels the spread of cholera.

‘’It is a pity that despite continuous awareness campaigns which have been carried out by health officials, still some people have no latrines,” Luoga said.

During his familiarisation tour in Tarime District recently Mara Regional Commissioner (RC), Magesa Mulongo ordered district authorities to halt the spread of cholera.