Hepatitis E: Erongo shows the way

As the second most affected area in Namibia, the Erongo Region's fight against the hepatitis E outbreak has seen some of the best results to date, although many challenges remain.“Only in the Erongo Region have we seen significant decreases but we are careful to ascribe this to a single factor. However, we think that whatever the physical or other factors might be, the local leadership has played a crucial role,” says Dr Bernard Haufiku, who heads the response team.The most recent figures on the outbreak indicate that of the 7 142 cases reported by 12 January 2020, Erongo accounts for 22% of all cases, totalling 1 563.Of the 59 hepatitis E fatalities, eight were in Erongo. BeginningThe Swakopmund district confirmed its first cases in July 2018, after the outbreak had erupted in Windhoek's informal settlements in September 2017. Omaruru confirmed an outbreak in September 2018.The last confirmed case in the Omaruru district was reported in December 2018, and in July 2019 the outbreak in the Omaruru district was declared officially over.Walvis Bay confirmed an outbreak in February 2019, mainly in the Twaloloka informal settlement. Usakos reported its first cases in September last year.An outbreak is confirmed when five or more cases from the same area are confirmed by laboratory tests within a month. Over the past two months, between 18 November and 12 January, the Erongo Region diagnosed 36 new cases. The 36 cases were reported mainly in Kuisebmond in Walvis Bay (19), and the DRC informal settlement in Swakopmund (11). Battling onWalvis Bay municipality spokesperson Caty Sheya last week said the local authority had spent N$209 200 last year in an effort to curb the outbreak. Among the actions taken by the municipality were intensive monitoring of activities at informal trade areas and informal housing settlements, as well as widespread health education and information sharing sessions with the community.Moreover, thousands of critical sanitation items have been distributed. Sheya added that the health ministry had sponsored thousands of litres of non-toxic mineral disinfectant spray to be tested in Walvis Bay and Swakopmund. Moreover, four mobile chemical toilets and three prepaid water points were installed in the Twaloloka informal settlement. However, Sheya underlined that challenges remain, particularly due to “mushrooming backyard shacks, which often result in a number of people sharing one toilet on a rented property. This leads to tenants having to find alternative means to relieve themselves.” Basic needs Clive Lawrence of the Swakopmund municipality's health department last week said the municipality had installed 11 water points at a cost of around N$10 000 since mid-2018.Moreover, 30 mobile toilets were installed in the DRC informal settlement that cost approximately N$90 000 per month for rent and servicing.He said shortly after the first cases were reported, surveys were conducted to assess the needs of the community, mainly the DRC informal settlement, which was the most affected area. The study found that the area had around 229 working toilets. On average two to four families shared a toilet.Researchers indicated that toilets used by fewer people were in better condition.Residents at the time complained that many toilets were unusable, as they “had not been flushed in months.” Another challenge was that only four working taps were available to the community at the time. Lawrence last week said despite the provision of more water taps and toilets “the need for more water stands and effective sanitation facilities is extreme.”A January report on Namibia's outbreak found that another challenge in the region was a lack of volunteers for fieldwork and a general shortage of human resources.The report noted that as of September 2019, a total of 3 115 households and dozens of public areas such as restaurants and tuck shops had been reached with health education.During these visits, more than 10 600 community members were reached. JANA-MARI SMITH

Hepatitis E: Erongo shows the way

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Namibian Sun 2026-02-25

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Hepatitis E: Erongo shows the way

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Namibian Sun 2026-02-25

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