WINDHOEK, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's President Hage Geingob toured Havana informal settlements in the capital Windhoek Friday where hepatitis E disease has been thriving since Nov. 2017.
Geingob's visit came after Katutura Intermediate Hospital epidemiologist Lilliane Kahuika said that hepatitis E had claimed a third victim - another pregnant woman, who died on Jan. 25, 2018.
Kahiuika said two of three women died while giving birth and that their babies are alive.
She also said that more than 500 others -- 314 men and 239 women -- are either in the hospital or have since been discharged.
Havana with 289 cases and another informal settlement, Goreangab that has 149 cases, are the hardest hit, according to Kahuika.
Geingob, who was accompanied by several officials from the government and the municipality, toured a dump site in Havana informal settlement, one of the hardest hit areas.
Addressing the residents and the officials, Geingob said it was a pity that the hepatitis E outbreak was happening in the area.
Available figures show that about half of Windhoek 400,000 population stay in several informal settlements.
Most of the areas have no running water, electricity and infrastructure.
Geingob alluded to this saying: "We can't move where we want because some areas are not planned for people to stay there. The place is not serviced."
Later, Geingob visited Katutura Intermediate Hospital the people who tested positive for hepatitis E are receiving treatment.
During a meeting on Wednesday, the City of Windhoek said they had set aside 32 million Namibian dollars (2.7 million U.S. dollars) for helping in the fight against hepatitis E.
Of the 32 million Namibian dollars (2.7 million U.S. dollars), 17 million Namibian dollars (1.4 million U.S. dollars) would be for toilets and water facilities.
