Royals ask state to engage in urgent rural listeria campaign

MONARCHS and traditional leaders in the province have called for an intensified and robust campaign to extend awareness of the dangers of the deadly listeria bacteria throughout rural areas.

They are urging the health department to deploy health workers, including nurses and inspectors, to far-flung areas of the province to conduct awareness campaigns on the dangers of listeria and how to avoid it.

The royals said the focus should also be on getting small shopkeepers to remove from their store shelves the risky meats, which include polony, viennas, russians, frankfurters, other sausages and all cold meats.

“This affects all people, irrespective of where they are. We should be protecting lives everywhere. Education on this bacteria should be extended to remote rural areas. We are desperate for advice and education on how our people can avoid listeria and loss of life,” said AmaXhosa King Zwelonke Mpendulo Sigcawu.

The monarch said the education should be like that conducted for HIV-Aids and TB.

“Unlike in urban areas, some rural people do not have TVs or radios, and many do not understand the impact of listeriosis.

“The government must please come and visit the shops in our areas and teach our people about this bacteria,” urged Sigcawu.

To combat the disease, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has urged people to immediately get rid of polony and any other readyto-eat processed meat products.

There have been 180 deaths in South Africa since the outbreak of the food-borne disease in January this year, eight of which were recorded in the Eastern Cape.

AmaRharhabe kingdom’s Regent-Queen Noloyiso Sandile, AbaThembu acting King Azenathi Zanesizwe Dalindyebo, Western Thembuland King Siyambonga Dalimvula Matanzima, Western Mpondoland King Ndamase Ndlovuyezwe Ndamase and all other royals said information should be disseminated to the most rural of areas, as this was where it was needed most.

They said health officials should hold education awareness campaigns in villages and farms, alongside the radio and TV slots.

Kings Dalindyebo, Matanzima, Ndamase, Sandile and Sigcawu said traditional leaders, royals and their council members should also be personally informed about listeria so that they can be at the forefront in curbing this disease.

“This is a deadly disease that needs all of us to fight it,” said King Matanzima. —