LOBAMBA – A total of 44 children have since died while undergoing treatment for diarrhoea. This was said by the Minister of Health, Senator Sibongile Simelane, yesterday through a ministerial statement made in the House of Assembly. Simelane told Members of Parliament that to date, a total of 7 553 cases of diarrhoea had been reported covering all regions. “Most of these were successfully dealt with at outpatient stage and 659 were admitted as in patients and again they were successfully treated and discharged,” she said. The minister said her ministry, through the Epidemic Task Force, was intensifying the response to the outbreak, working together with partners and as highlighted in a government press statement, a team of five experts from the World Health Organisation (WHO) had arrived in the country last Thursday. “Among other things, the WHO experts will provide guidance on the accelerated introduction of the vaccine against Rota virus as His Majesty’s government has committed to accelerate introduction of this vaccine,” she said. Simelane said government had intensified its public education including community based field visits and mobilisation. “We are also re-emphasising the issue of hygiene practices. We urge the public to practice thorough hand washing with soap and safe running water after using the toilet, after changing nappies and before preparing and consuming food,” she said. Simelane encouraged the public to observe good sanitation practices as well as drinking only water that is known to be safe or water that is boiled before use. “Immediately when a child is seen to be suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting, the parents, guardians or caretakers of that child must take the child to a health clinic,” she
Posted on: Tue, 05 Aug 2014 19:04:00 +0000
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