'Enough', say residents

[Guest guest]

EAST LONDON, SOUTH AFRICA

Thursday, 16 February 2006

'Enough', say residents

http://www.go.co.za/2006/02/16/news/adust.html

By Sibongile Mkani WEST Bank residents have once again called upon

the department of health to help them in their ongoing fight against

the offloading of grain vessels at the Port of East London, which,

they say, damages their health and leaves a film of maize dust over

their homes.

Asthma sufferer Celeste Hunter, says she now has a skin rash because

of the dust.

" Enough is enough, " says Celeste, who says she has repeatedly asked

the Department of Health for help.

" I have had it with this maize dust in my home and now my body is

covered with a skin rash because of it, " she says. " The health

department has to do something about it. We cannot continue to live

like this. "

Two other residents, Joyce Bradley and Petrus Van Biljon say they

have also had enough and that the small buckets placed in their

yards, which are meant to catch the dust, do not seem to help.

Buffalo City's General Manager for Health Services, Dr Mkhululi

Nkohla confirmed that prolonged exposure to grain dust is hazardous

to human beings and can cause irritation to throats, eyes

(conjunctivitis), skin (rashes) and lungs (coughing, wheezing,

asthma, shortness of breath).

In addition, he said grain dust may be contaminated with fungal

spores and bacteria which may be passed to humans and cause

bacterial or fungal infections of the lungs.

In asthma patients " maize dust can precipitate or aggravate an

asthmatic attack " he said.

Dr Nkohla explained that port health falls under the jurisdiction of

the Provincial Department of Health. He said they have been made

aware of the possible health hazard and joint meetings with Port

authorities are currently being planned to address the problem.