adminChronicle Correspondent
THE Ministry of Health and Child Welfare recorded 12 diarrhoea-related deaths and 8 140 cases at six hospitals across the country in just one week last month.According to the Ministry’s latest weekly report, the figures were recorded during the 34th week, which is between 19 and 25 August.
About 75 percent of the deaths were of children under the age of five.
“The total diarrhoea cases reported a fortnight ago are 8 140 with 12 deaths recorded. Of the reported cases 4 656 (57,2 percent) and eight deaths were of children under five years. The cumulative figure for diarrhoea is 347 884 and 337 deaths this year,” said Head of Epidemiology and Disease Control in the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare Dr Portia Manangazira, in the Weekly Report on Epidemic – Prone Diseases, Deaths and Public Health Events.
She said Uzumba-Maramba-Pfungwe (UMP) District Hospital recorded the highest number of deaths.
“The deaths were reported from Chitungwiza Central Hospital with two, Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals and Harare Central Hospital with one each.
“Chikomba District Hospital had one, UMP in Mashonaland East recorded five and Mpilo Central Hospital had two. The provinces which reported the highest number of diarrhoea cases are Manicaland with 1 412 and Masvingo 1 171,” she said.
Meanwhile, suspected typhoid cases were reported from Sanyati District Hospital in Mashonaland West bringing the cumulative figure for typhoid to 1 403.
Dr Manangazira also said no new cholera cases were reported during the week under review.
Online Reporter