LIMPOPO- Vhembe District Municipality (VDM), through its disaster management centre, convened a disaster reduction seminar on May 26 in Porche Villa Lodge near Muledane village, just outside Thohoyandou under the theme, Disaster Risk Reduction to Fast-track Development for Community Services.
One of the aims was to get to resolutions and strategies with regard to possible outbreaks of cholera in the area.
Mayor Dowelani Nenguda gave the keynote address which among others reflected on the need for the participation of civil society organisations and traditional leaders in disaster management, the need to increase the budget for disaster management, the participation and collaboration of sectoral department at the level as immediate importance, appealed for a response strategy with regard to possible outbreaks of cholera in the area.
Representatives of various sectors and organs of state including the departments of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, Health, South African Local Government Association, the South African Weather Services, Disaster Management Institute of Southern Africa enjoyed the presentation.
The following resolutions were raised during the meeting:
Mpho Mufamadi, who represented Vhembe district’s Health Department, said people in the district should be watchful about the news they receive regarding cholera.
“In Vhembe, there has been no confirmation yet about cholera cases. You must, however, stay vigilant. Contamination and human faeces in rivers are common causes of cholera.”
The seminar resolved that the District Disease Outbreak Response Team must be activated and led by the district’s Department of Health, the head of the district centre and district health services, who must intensify water sampling and testing.
They have to report to the provincial structure, and all sector departments and other organs of state must be as urgent in initiating public awareness programmes, said Limpopo Disaster Management representative, Tshilidzi Netshidzati.
“Fire brigade services, assisted by Provincial Fire Services must embark on an in loco inspection of all fire stations and other fire infrastructure in the district and submit a report to the mayor.
“Collaboration with the University of Venda must be intensified to make full use of the institution for research purposes.”
The seminar appreciated the latest developments on the achievements of the university to develop a degree in disaster management, Netshidzati added.
