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Struggle continues for poor against cholera

WARNING: This is Version 1 of my old archive, so Photos will NOT work and many links will NOT work. But you can find articles by searching on the Titles. There is a lot of information in this archive. Use the SEARCH BAR at the top right. Prior to December 2012; I was a pro-Christian type of Conservative. I was unaware of the mass of Jewish lies in history, especially the lies regarding WW2 and Hitler. So in here you will find pro-Jewish and pro-Israel material. I was definitely WRONG about the Boeremag and Janusz Walus. They were for real.

Original Post Date: 2008-04-17 Time: 00:00:00  Posted By: Jan

By Bhavna Sookha and Anna Cox

In 1956, the Freedom Charter was signed in Kliptown, Soweto. It promised a better life – and health – for all. Yet, in 2008, people have been struck down by, and are dying from, cholera, a disease fuelled by poverty and squalor.

One such victim is Kelebogile Malefane, who has died following an outbreak of cholera in an informal settlement in Kliptown, south of Joburg.

Kelebogile was one of two people who had been diagnosed with the highly infectious disease in Chicken Farm, an informal settlement in Kliptown, home to about 2 000 people.

Her 17-year-old daughter Lebohang was successfully treated at Chris Hani-Baragwanath hospital and is now recovering at home.

It was initially believed that four people in the area had contracted the disease, but Gauteng Health Department spokesperson Zanele Mngadi said subsequent tests on the two came back negative for the waterborne disease.

Two weeks ago, Lebohang began vomiting and had severe abdominal cramps and diarrhoea. After becoming dehydrated, she was taken to a local clinic and then admitted to hospital, where it was confirmed she had contracted cholera.

Her mother fell ill after visiting her in hospital and was admitted to the same ward a few days later.

Staff at the hospital isolated the two and gave them strict instructions not to walk around. Their visitors were told not to touch them.

Three days later, Kelebogile died. Tests confirmed cholera.

Health department officials are yet to find the source of the outbreak, but say the situation has been “contained”.

“Samples from the communal taps and the Klip River have been taken for tests and they came back negative,” Mngadi said. “Our immediate response was creating awareness. Health promotion teams alerted the community, and clinics in the surrounding areas were alerted to treat cases of diarrhoea vigilantly.”

Back in her shack, just a few kilometres from Freedom Square, where the charter was signed, Kelebogile’s sister, Cecilia Mofokeng, said the family were devastated.

“I don’t understand. We all ate the same food and drank the same water, so how is it that only we got sick?” said Cecilia, who said they got their water from communal taps.

“The neighbours are being very supportive and they are aware that my mother died of cholera, but they don’t believe it – because no one else has got sick.”


How to treat water

  • Pour one teaspoon of bleach into 20-25 litres of water, mix well and allow to cool for at least 30 minutes.
  • Alternatively, boil the water for one minute to make it clean and safe. Let it cool before drinking.
  • Water should be stored in a clean and closed container.
  • Always use a clean cup to scoop water from the container or pour water from the container when needed.
  • Wash hands with soap (or ash) and safe water before eating or preparing food.
  • Wash all meat, fruit and vegetables with treated or safe water before eating, and all meat, fish and vegetables should be cooked well. Food should be covered and kept in a clean, cool place.
  • Store raw and cooked food separately.
  • Hands should be washed with soap and safely treated water after using the toilet, changing a baby’s nappy or after throwing away rubbish.
  • Toilets should be kept clean at all times to stop the spread of germs from flies.

    If a person has a runny tummy or is vomiting, the following mixture should be prepared:

    Add eight teaspoons of sugar and half a teaspoon of salt to one litre of safe, treated water. Mix well, drink and immediately go to the nearest healthcare facility.

      • Source: http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?art_id=vn20080417054421476C226223