Grootfontein, one of the Otjozondjupa region’s most dense urban centres with a population of almost 30 000 inhabitants, is grappling with rising cases of cholera outbreak, with the latest figures showing a total of 22 confirmed cases.
The region’s health director, Gerbhado Timotheus, confirmed that from the latest 83 samples tested, 22 returned positive and results from another 40 samples tested negative, while outcomes from more samples are still pending.
Late last year, health minister Dr Esperance Luvindao confirmed the outbreak of cholera in the Grootfontein health district, after three of the five suspected cases tested positive. She said all cases were locally acquired, pointing to wide-based community transmission.
Cholera is a bacterial disease that spreads through contaminated water and food. It can cause severe diarrhoea, dehydration, and even death if the disease goes untreated.
People living in places with unsafe drinking water, poor sanitation, and inadequate hygiene, particularly in crowded informal settlements, are at the highest risk of contracting cholera.
The ministry continues to call for a multisectoral response, emphasising the importance of sanitation, clean water and hygiene.
According to Timotheus, so far, no deaths have been confirmed, and the hospitalisation and constant monitoring of those who tested positive remains in force.
“So far, we have not reported any deaths, which is actually good news. We are having two admissions. One is positive, and one is a suspect. We are still waiting for the results of suspect one. However, I’m concerned about the escalation of confirmed cases. But nevertheless, despite my concern, as a region and as a district, we are making good progress, because I visited the Kap en Bou location where these cases came from,” said Timotheus.
He said staff members and community health workers have been working around the clock to ensure that residents are educated and are made aware of the various preventative measures.
Interventions
Meanwhile, the Grootfontein Municipality has embarked on a project of installing tippy taps across both the Kap en Bou and Blikkiesdorp informal settlements, which will serve as hands-free handwashing stations.
The municipality is also expanding its water network in those respective areas, with the hope of connecting more houses to clean, reliable potable water.
The health ministry, with the assistance of the defence ministry, has also boosted those interventions with the erection of tents that will serve as treatment centres, and so far, Timotheus is happy with the progress being made despite the spike in cases.
“I must say that I’m happy with the support from the ministry of defence. So far, we have received tents that we need to put up. We are setting up treatment areas that we have already identified. The ministry of works was already here and has indicated where the services are, especially the water, the sewer, and the electricity that will be connected to these treatment areas,” added Timotheus.
Global crisis
As of September 2025, over 409 222 cholera cases and 4 738 deaths were reported globally, from 31 countries, with six of the 31 countries reporting case fatality rates above 1%. In 2024, 804,721 cholera cases and 5,805 related fatalities were reported from 33 countries.
