Cholera loophole at informal crossings
MBABANE – Informal crossers into the country may be a risk, as they may not go through the usual screening process for the disease.
Recently, there had been reports that there is an outbreak of cholera in some parts of the southern African region. This includes, mainly countries such as Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi.
There also had been recent concerns about an outbreak in South Africa (SA), particularly in Mpumalanga Province where it had also been reported that a woman had died.
It was also reported by various media agencies that since its outbreak, the disease had killed hundreds of people.
Noteworthy, cholera is currently a global crisis that is not only unique to these African countries.
According to medical experts, cholera is an acute diarrhoeal disease that kills within hours if left untreated. Death occurs due to loss of fluids in the body.
Calvin Dlamini, a Health Promotions Officer under the Ministry of Health noted that there are informal crossings that are partially allowed and that they are manned by military personnel. Further, he stated that there were those where people just crossed illegally, and that in such cases it was difficult to monitor them, because those who entered the country through such avoid being detected. However, he said the emergency rapid response team works hand-in-hand with personnel, not only at the border but also at informal crossings that are manned by soldiers.
IMPORTANT
Dlamini stated that at official borders, it was very important for people entering the country to be honest when responding to questions during screening. He said the screening process is dependent on the honesty of the person. “They have to be honest about where they are going and where they have been,” he said.
Also, he said that at every border gate, there were health officials present to monitor, not only cholera but other health conditions that may be infectious. He said they had specific questions which they ask every person who enters the country, to screen them before they proceed.
Further, Dlamini said the advantage with Eswatini was that it was a country that did not segregate on medical issues. He stated that even if a person was from another country, they made sure that he or she received treatment without any form of segregation.
Dlamini was also asked how the they would monitor people who entered the country illegally through non-authorised informal crossings. He said in this case, they often sensitised emaSwati about the symptoms of the illness, so that whenever they noticed that a person showed these, they could quickly refer him to the relevant medical authorities. Dlamini said health facilities in the country were, so far, equipped and that when a case was identified early, it was easier to handle.
Meanwhile, yesterday, the Ministry of Health had urged the public not to panic about recent concerns about stomach problems that many emaSwati were experiencing. The health promotions officer had assured emaSwati that this was not cholera. He also said, as a ministry, they were fully prepared to handle it, adding that Eswatini were cholera-free.
CHECKED
Mlandvo Dlamini, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ministry of Home Affairs was also asked about measures that were being taken to ensure that people who crossed the borders into the country were checked for cholera. He initially noted that it was the duty of health officials under the Ministry of Health to handle this.
Mlandvo said so far, they were pleased with the manner in which health officials were checking travellers and that they were doing this consistently. He also revealed that even when he entered the country through Lavumisa, he also went through the same and that he was screened for infectious diseases.
Global Cholera Crisis: Over 50 000 new cases and 483 deaths reported in December 2023.
As the world grapples with the ongoing cholera crisis, alarming statistics have emerged, revealing the devastating impact of the disease. According to recent reports obtained from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), a staggering 50 440 new cholera cases, accompanied by 483 new deaths, were reported worldwide in December 2023, alone.
The five countries hit hardest by the outbreak are Afghanistan, with 12 425 cases, followed closely by Syria with 11 200 cases. Zimbabwe, Sudan and Mozambique also face significant challenges, reporting 6 902, 5 742 and 4 257 cases respectively.
Tragically, the toll of new deaths is equally distressing. Sudan leads with 146 fatalities, followed by Zimbabwe with 127 deaths. Zambia, Ethiopia, and Congo also mourn the loss of 95, 69 and 14 lives respectively.
The crisis extends beyond December, as an additional 184 272 new cases were reported or collected retrospectively from before November 30, 2023. These cases have emerged in various countries, including Afghanistan, Dominican Republic, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Togo, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Comparing the figures to the previous year, the global cholera situ
ation remains a cause for concern. In 2023, a total of 957 050 cholera cases were reported, resulting in 5 518 deaths. While this represents a decrease compared to 2022, when 1 261 347 cases and 2 342 deaths were reported, the battle against cholera is far from over.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and other international organisations have been closely monitoring the situation. They warn that the resurgence of cholera poses a significant threat to vulnerable communities worldwide.
cHALLenging
Despite previous advances in controlling the disease, the current outbreak is proving more challenging, with increasing case numbers and worse outcomes for patients compared to a decade ago.
Efforts to combat the crisis are underway, with countries implementing various measures to contain the spread.
Zimbabwe, for instance, has banned large gatherings and increased surveillance at ports of entry to prevent a repeat of the devastating 2008 epidemic that claimed 4 000 lives.
The fight against cholera requires a coordinated global response according to the report from ECDC. It further states that the WHO, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), and other organisations are working tirelessly to address the crisis, but urgent action is needed to protect the most vulnerable populations and prevent further loss of life.