DIARROHEA cases have reportedly increased in Bulawayo with one of the city’s biggest referral centres —Mpilo Central Hospital said to be attending to an average of 10 cases a day in the adult section.
Report by Sheryleen Masuku Own Correspondent
Mpilo clinical director Wethu Ndebele yesterday confirmed to NewsDay that they had recorded an increase in the cases of diarrhoea.
He, however, said: “We call it pre-rainy season diarrhoea. It is caused by infectious bacteria related to shortages of water around this time of the year.”
Ndebele said the diarrhoea also occurred after commencement of the rains, adding that it may be caused by the fact that the rains may wash some particles of bacteria into water sources.
He said poor hygienic practices, such as lack of hand washing or unhygienic food preparation due to the water crisis besetting Bulawayo especially at this time of the year, could be contributing to the increase in diarrhoea cases.
“We encourage people to wash hands using water and soap, but this may become a challenge especially if there is shortage of water,” he said.
He, however, dispelled fears of water contamination, saying that the city’s water was safe for consumption.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Hospital staff said they had carried out tests on water samples collected from different sites in the city and the results had shown that the water had no traces of contamination.
