Fighting cholera disease in Kabezi at all cost

Anyone who sets foot in Kabezi health center must be disinfected

About 99 cases of cholera have been identified in Kabezi health district (24 km from Bujumbura capital city) between 27 July and 17 August. According to Arcade Hatungimana, the provincial doctor in Bujumbura Province, 80 patients recovered but one of the patients died. Fifty six patients are from Kabezi commune in Bujumbura Province while 43 others are from Kanyosha and Ruziba neighborhoods of Bujumbura the capital.

The lack of drinking water and restrooms in houses are the major causes of the increasing number of patients who suffer from cholera disease. Dr. Arcade Hatungimana indicates that a commission has been set up to sensitize the population. “We work closely with the administration to combat the disease”, he said. The disinfestation of different places, sensitization and education of communities about hygiene basic rules like the adequate use of latrines, washing hands properly before eating and after leaving the toilets are some of the recommendations given.

The targeted groups include 13 children under 5 years of age, 22 children aged between 5 and 14 as well as 64 others who are aged 15 and over.

Residents of Kabezi locality indicated that they have to use water fetched from Lake Tanganyika. “One tap is shared between residents from three entities of Kabezi and a shortage of water is often observed in the dry season in plains”, said one inhabitant of Kabezi locality. For fighting at all cost that disease caused by insanitary living conditions, Arcade Hatungimana says that the provincial health district in collaboration with the administrative officials have to advise people neither to fetch water from Lake Tanganyika nor to drink it without boiling.

Rénilde Ndayishimiye, the administrator of Kabezi commune in Bujumbura Province indicated that some restaurants which did not fulfil the sanitary conditions were closed on 9 August 2016. In addition, she added that the important and urgent activity to do for the moment was to oblige each family to have a restroom. The Burundi Red Cross is also involved in combatting cholera by installing tents to shelter patients and disinfesting the places as well.