MEDIA STATEMENT: COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CALLS FOR REGULAR UPDATES ON CHOLERA OUTBREAK FROM DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

The Portfolio Committee on Health received an update today on Cholera outbreak from the Department of Health. The committee told the department that it is going to need regular updates from it regarding the Cholera outbreak which has claimed the lives of about 20 people.

The department’s Director General, Dr Sandile Buthelezi, said water samples were taken and results are still pending, feedback will be provided as soon as the results are received. Dr Buthelezi informed the committee that the Department of Water Affairs and Sanitation and the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality will compare water quality test results to identify affected sources.

Members of the committee were of the view that this matter needs an extensive investigation as issues pertaining to the cholera outbreak have not been addressed for a couple of years.

In welcoming the update, the Chairperson of the committee, Dr Kenneth Jacobs, highlighted the importance of the creation of awareness about cholera by educating the people especially the affected communities. “The initiative should be similar to that of the Covid-19 pandemic where the country received regular updates about the infection and the mortality rate.

Dr Jacobs said the committee will leave the work to the capable hands of the local authority and relevant government departments, including the Department of Health as there are systems in place that are dealing and tackling the cholera outbreak.

Source: Parliament of South Africa