'Diarrhoea Outbreak Under Control'
Innocent Selatlhwa | Monday November 5, 2018 15:33
Maphorisa announced that by week 42, only Gaborone, Chobe and Jwaneng remained in the outbreak. A total of 39, 691 cases have been registered.
The country experienced an outbreak of Diarrhoea in children under five years of age since week 36 (early September 2018). Briefing the media on Friday, Maphorisa said the outbreak was detected following routine analysis and monitoring of the national public health surveillance data.
“Laboratory investigations attribute the cause of the outbreak to the rotavirus. The outbreak started from the central part of the country and spread to other parts. Anecdotal reports from clinical setting reported increase in the number of Diarrhoea cases in children under five years of age,” she said. Maphorisa said they analysed daily and weekly Diarrhoea data; monitored impact of the rotavirus vaccines using IDSR data; analysed routine immunisation data; analysed available laboratory data from the district line- lists; reviewed the water assessment reports; conducted quick assessment on storage of vaccines in medical store; reviewed Diarrhoea data amongst under five year olds; compiled a draft of the outbreak investigation report; and initiated a death audit.
Maphorisa said there is no correlation between the water quality and the current Diarrhoea outbreak.
“Gaborone is still in outbreak since week 36, but the water compliance is high. Mabutsane has low water compliance rates, but the diarrhoeal attack rate is very low. Same applies to Hukuntsi. Therefore, the current Diarrhoea outbreak is not linked to water contamination,” she said.
She further said the Ministry together with Water Utilities Corporation have collaborated to reinforce water quality monitoring targeting all doing water distribution systems.
She said her Ministry continues health promotion and community education as a preventative measure emphasising water sanitation and hygiene.
She said they used the media to spread their messages, trained media personnel, conducted workshops for faith based organisations and traditional heal practitioners at districts, used public address systems, Kgotla meetings, focus group discussions and home visits amongst other interventions.
The PS further said they had adequate stock levels of Diarrhoea management commodities of which some they procured while the World Health Organisation donated others.
She said they got technical assistance from WHO, assistance from four doctors and 11 nurses from Botswana Defence Force, volunteers form Red Cross and vehicles from other ministries to help them.
Going forward, Maphorisa said the Ministry would continue monitoring and surveillance of Diarrhoea diseases to guard against resurgence of new cases.
She also said they would continue testing samples for rotavirus for genotyping; prioritise districts in outbreak for immediate support; finalise outbreak investigation report and death audit and also evaluate the outbreak response management.