Scabies still on the increase in Ohangwena
Over 5 000 cases this year
Governor Ndevashiya urged residents to practice good hygiene and wash their bedding regularly.
Scabies cases are still on the increase in the Ohangwena Region. During his state of the region address this week, governor Walde Ndevashiya said 5 484 cases have already been recorded this year.
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, scabies is a skin infestation caused by a mite known as sarcoptes scabiei. The most common symptoms are intense itching and a pimple-like rash, while scabies is spread by direct, prolonged, skin-to-skin contact with an infected person.
During the 2022 state of the region address, it was announced that the region had reported between 400 and 800 cases of scabies, which were treated at public health facilities across the region.
However, the number of cases then exponentially increased to 10 780 last year.
“This disease requires a high level of hygiene to be practiced by all residents of the region. Clothes, linen or blankets need to be washed regularly,” Ndevashiya said.
He added that blankets should also be hung in the sun, which will cause the mite that causes scabies to die.
“Residents who find themselves with rashes are advised to report at the nearest health facility for treatment and information,” he stressed.
‘Keeps coming back’
Namibian Sun visited a small San community living in Omundaungilo constituency, where a number of villagers are affected by scabies.
According to one of the villagers, Tuhafeni Sakaria, they do not get proper healthcare and instead use traditional herbs whenever there is an outbreak in the area. This treatment, however, no longer works.
“We used to treat ourselves with traditional herbs and it would get better, but now it’s no longer effective and the clinic is far,” he said.
Sakaria called on government to provide them with a nearby clinic to enable them to receive proper healthcare.
“Our children are mostly affected by scabies. It is a serious concern as we do not get medication for it and it keeps coming back,” he said.
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, scabies is a skin infestation caused by a mite known as sarcoptes scabiei. The most common symptoms are intense itching and a pimple-like rash, while scabies is spread by direct, prolonged, skin-to-skin contact with an infected person.
During the 2022 state of the region address, it was announced that the region had reported between 400 and 800 cases of scabies, which were treated at public health facilities across the region.
However, the number of cases then exponentially increased to 10 780 last year.
“This disease requires a high level of hygiene to be practiced by all residents of the region. Clothes, linen or blankets need to be washed regularly,” Ndevashiya said.
He added that blankets should also be hung in the sun, which will cause the mite that causes scabies to die.
“Residents who find themselves with rashes are advised to report at the nearest health facility for treatment and information,” he stressed.
‘Keeps coming back’
Namibian Sun visited a small San community living in Omundaungilo constituency, where a number of villagers are affected by scabies.
According to one of the villagers, Tuhafeni Sakaria, they do not get proper healthcare and instead use traditional herbs whenever there is an outbreak in the area. This treatment, however, no longer works.
“We used to treat ourselves with traditional herbs and it would get better, but now it’s no longer effective and the clinic is far,” he said.
Sakaria called on government to provide them with a nearby clinic to enable them to receive proper healthcare.
“Our children are mostly affected by scabies. It is a serious concern as we do not get medication for it and it keeps coming back,” he said.
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