Angelah Nothando Mlotshwa
Environment and Health Reporter
The Ministry of Health and Child Care has released shocking figures that show that diarrhea has affected many parts of the country since the year began.
The report from the Ministry shows that at least eight people have succumbed to diarrhea so far this year.
The Provincial Medical Director for Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Maphios Siamuchembu said the rise in diarrhea cases is due to water crises brought about by climate change with most people being forced to use the little water that will be available which in most times will be contaminated.
“Weekly Disease Surveillance report for the period ending 01-01-2023, 6 839 common diarrhea cases and 8 deaths were reported. 5 of the deaths reported were from Sally Mugabe Hospital, While Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, North-Western District in Harare Province and Mangwe District in Matabeleland South Province reported 1 death each. Of the reported cases 2 782 were under the age of 5”, reads the Ministry of Health and Child Care report that is available on their twitter account.
“Diarrhea is usually caused by eating contaminated or rotting food or drinking contaminated water. Our Cities need good sewer systems and the issue of burst pipes should be arrested”, Siamuchembu.
The Provincial Medical Director for Bulawayo also encouraged the drinking of lots of fluids to replace lost fluids by those who may be suffering from diarrhea thereafter the patients should present themselves to any nearby health facility. Only health care workers should prescribe any further medicines for the patients.
Diarrhea according to Siamuchembu affects everyone. However, children under five years of age and the elderly above sixty-five succumb quicker to this disease.