adminLisa Shirichena Herald Reporter
Eleven people died of diarrhoea countrywide in the last week of November, the Ministry of Health and Child Care has said. This brings the total number of people who have died of diarrhoea so far this year to 460 out of the 479 147 cases reported. According to the ministry’s diseases surveillance report update, Mashonaland Central is the hardest hit as it has more cases reported.
The report says 9 628 cases were reported during the last week of last month.
“Of the reported cases, 4896 and eight deaths were from the under five years of age,” reads part of the report. The deaths were reported from Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals(3), Sanyati district in Mashonaland province (2), Gwanda district in Matebeleland South province (1), Gutu district in Masvingo province (1), Chitungwiza Central Hospital (2) and United Bulawayo Hospitals (2).
The provinces which reported the highest number of diarrhoea cases are Mashonaland Central with 1 480 and Mashonaland West with 1 376.
Most people die of dehydration in most cases. Oral rehydration therapy is the simple way to treat diarrhoea. The use of a home-based salt sugar solution to combat dehydration from diarrhoea has been promoted by the Control of Diarrhoea Disease programme in the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
Common diarrhoea cases remain high because of inadequate safe water, poor sanitation and lack of basic hygiene.
Online Reporter