HARARE – Eight people have died from 6,839 common diarrhoea cases recorded in the country since the beginning of the year, government has confirmed.
According to a Weekly Disease Surveillance report by the Ministry of Health and Child Care, the death cases were recorded at Sally Mugabe Hospital, Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, North-Western District in Harare Province as well as Mangwe District in Matabeleland South Province.
Harare has been the epicenter of diarrhoeal diseases since late last year with the province recording over 1,100 cases between October and November 2022.
Since the beginning of the year, the province has recorded the highest number of deaths.
“Five of the deaths reported were from Sally Mugabe, while Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, Northwestern District in Harare Province and Mangwe District in Matabeleland South Province reported 1 death each,” said the ministry.
Of the recorded cases, according to authorities, Mashonaland East Province had the highest number of cases – at 1,384 – with Manicaland Province accounting for 1,245.
Authorities said of the reported cases, 2,782 of them involved children under the age of 5.
Diarrhoea, according to Provincial Medical Director for Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, Maphios Siamuchembu affects everyone.
However, children under five years of age and people above 65 often succumb faster to the disease.
He said the rise in diarrhoeal cases is due to the crisis of clean water brought about by climate change and other manmade factors.
A lot of people have been forced to resort to unprotected sources of the necessity with many falling sick after consuming contaminated water.
Siamuchembu also encouraged the taking of lots of fluids to replace lost fluids among those who may be suffering from diarrhoea and later present themselves to any nearby health facility.
Only health care workers should prescribe any further medicines for the patients.
