adminTinomuda Chakanyuka, Senior Reporter
SHORTAGE of ablution facilities at Sipepa Transit Camp in Tsholotsho, Matabeleland North province has sparked fears of a diarrhoea outbreak at the facility. Chairperson of the health committee at the camp, sister Merjury Maphosa told journalists yesterday during a National Aids Council (NAC) organised media tour that the few pit latrines at the camp were almost full. Sister Maphosa, who is also the sister in charge at Sipepa hospital, where the transit camp is situated, said more than 800 people accommodated at the camp were sharing 30 toilets.
“The toilets that we have here are almost full so we need to peg another site and procure some more temporary toilets to alleviate the situation. As it is, we are afraid of diarrhoeal outbreaks in the camp,” said Sister Maphosa.
She said that the risk of disease outbreaks was worsened by overcrowding with about 210 families being sheltered in 69 tents.
Sister Maphosa said Sipepa hospital had witnessed an increase in outpatients treated for different ailments since the establishment of the camp almost a month ago.
“Last week alone we attended to more than 500 patients, a number that we normally attend to in a month.
“We haven’t attended to any serious cases yet. The cases we have dealt with include headaches, abdominal discomforts and upper respiratory infections,” she said.
Sister Maphosa said the health facility was also running out of vital medicines owing to the large number of people at the camp. She, however, said the hospital was prepared to deal with any diarrhoeal disease outbreak, despite the unavailability of anti-diarrhoeals at the health facility. “Of course we don’t have enough stocks of anti-diarrhoeals but we have been supplied with alternatives that should allow us to deal with any outbreaks,” she said.
Sister Maphosa also appealed for more food donations as the camp was running out of relish.
She said they had enough mealie meal and cooking oil to last them up to three months but had only cowpeas for relish.
“We are appealing to well-wishers to assist us with relish. We only have cowpeas (indumba/nyemba) which, from a nutrition point of view may not be adequate,” she said. Some of the flood victims interviewed bemoaned the conditions they were living under.
Mrs Sihle Gumbo, a mother of four from Mahlaba village said the situation at the camp exposed them to communicable diseases. “We are sharing one tent as three families and it’s unbearable. Such conditions are conducive for disease outbreaks and we wish the authorities could do something about it,” she said.
Another flood victim, Miss Elizabeth Dlamini added, “The toilets are full. Of course they are talking of bringing in more temporary toilets but for now we are at risk of contracting diseases,” she said.
The villagers came to the transit camp in February this year after floods caused by Cyclone Dineo.
*The flood victims now uregently need building materials such as cement, bricks and asbestos sheeets to rebuild their destroyed homes while others will be relocated to new areas. Those with donations should contact the DA for Thsolotsho, PA for Mat North or Zimpapers Bulawayo branch.
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