At least 18 babies are reported to have died in Maun in June last year following an outbreak of Diarrhea linked to Botswana Water Utilities contaminated drinking water.
Media reports revealed 120 cases of diarrhea and 18 deaths in the last two weeks of June 2012.
The report of 18 deaths in the Ngami area came in the same week the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Koolatamo Malefho, informed the Ministry of Minerals Energy and Water Resources that, “we are currently experiencing an outbreak in the North West District (Ngami) that has resulted in unnecessary morbidity and mortality. Water contamination has been identified as a contributor to the increased cases of diarrhea in these districts.”
Dr Malefho, who stated that microbiological contamination contributes to water borne diseases such as diarrhea, especially among children, told the Ministry of Minerals Energy and Water Resources that, “water samples brought to our Food Laboratory for testing indicate unacceptably high levels of microbiological contamination. There must be zero tolerance for microbiological contamination in drinking water from any source for public health reasons.”
Evidence has emerged that hundreds of other deaths from Diarrhea reported throughout the country over the years are also linked to contaminated water from the Water Utilities Corporations and the disbanded Department of Water Affairs.
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