14 Oct 2019

A Ministry of Health and Wellness official says fewer diarrhoea cases have been recorded this year compared to the last five years.

“Even though there have been some cases of diarrhoea in Goodhope and Okavango for a week, everything is fine now,” said Dr Oduetse Ratshipa, a public health physician.

Speaking in an interview, he however advised the public to be vigilant and on the lookout for signs and symptoms of the disease as it was the diarrhoea season.

Dr Ratshipa noted that the health ministry recently issued a press release advising the public to be cautious as the diarrhoea season was September-November.

The public was also advised to follow the publicised diarrhoea safety precautions.

Dr Ratshipa said the ministry would undertake campaigns to sensitise the public on preventing child death and diarrhoea in general.

“Rapid response teams hare been  set up in Okavango, Ngamiland, Lobatse, Goodhope and Kanye to do outbreak investigation, to assist the district to respond aggressively to contain, interrupt and prevent diarrhoea related deaths,” said Dr Ratshipa.

He said teams would be deployed in other districts.

At national level, the teams would be led by health specialists, experts from environmental health and medical laboratories, he disclosed.

Further, Dr Ratshipa said the ministry had activated the public health emergency management committee that was well versed on diarrhoea issues.

The team will work with United Nations organisations, Red Cross, CDC Botswana, other ministries as well as Water Utilities Corporation  as water testing would be intensified to enusre the provision of safe water to curb diarrhoea.

Dr Ratshipa urged Batswana to practise good hygiene and also encouraged them to visit the nearest health facility as soon as they noticed diarrhoea signs and symptoms.

He said treatment supplies were available while monitoring was ongoing. ENDS