Drought and disease on the agenda

WATER and drought issues dominated the Disaster Management Advisory Forum meeting held at the Richards Bay Civic Centre on Thursday.

The meeting itself suffered from the non-attendance of a number of key municipality members who would have addressed important agenda items.

While a bleak picture was painted of the current water situation, plans by Mhlathuze Water to increase the flow from the Mhlathuze River weir to Lake Nsezi were welcomed.

Fast-tracking of an extra pipeline to augment the supply is awaiting board budget approval and the EIA process has been completed.

Concern was expressed over the lack of co-ordination between various role players and organisations, resulting in duplication of efforts.

Concerns that water-borne diseases could hit the region were shared by Department of Health spokesperson Sandra Hadebe.

Cholera was named as the number one fear, raising the need for water supply, sanitation, water quality monitoring and readiness with rehydration tents to prevent an inevitable influx to hospitals and clinics with limited infrastructure, in the event of an outbreak.

Mozambique is already experiencing a cholera epidemic.

A number of diphtheria cases have been registered in Durban and Hadebe expressed concern these might spread to Zululand.

‘We are worried that many parents do not ensure that their children who are immunised as babies do not continue with the 6-year and 12-year booster vaccinations, placing them at risk.

‘All the department’s clinics have the vaccinations available every day and we ask parents to attend to this as a matter of urgency.’

Also related to the drought was the matter of cattle invading properties and roads, posing health and accident hazards.

Private animal pound service provides Bruce Matterson told the meeting the owners of livestock are responsible for direct costs relating to the catching, moving and safeguarding of stray cattle.

Calls were made for the Department of Agriculture to take a more active part in solving the problem, such as ensuring cattle are fed where they are, rather than being allowed to roam seeking pastures.

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