DIARRHOEA OUTBREAK CLAIMS 3 MORE LIVES

MBABANE – Three more children have reportedly died at Matsanjeni Health Centre due to the diarrhoea outbreak that is being experienced in the country.

According to a news bulletin that was aired by the Swaziland Broadcasting and Information Services (SBIS) on Saturday evening, it was reported that three babies had died of diarrhoea at Matsanjeni Health Centre in Lavumisa.

The station further reported that six were admitted to the same health centre. In a follow up interview, other hospitals were called such as Mankayane, Hlatikhulu and Pigg’s Peak Government Hospitals among others. Even though no one could give an official comment at management

level in all the hospitals as it was a Sunday, it was revealed that a lot of children had been admitted to the health facilities.
Admitted

“A lot of children have been admitted to Pigg’s Peak Government Hospital,” said a nurse. At Hlatikhulu Government Hospital a nurse said: “A lot were admitted on Saturday and there are no more available beds at the children’s ward.”
Other clinics which were called randomly confirmed admitting a number of infected children.

Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Health Dr Simon Zwane said his ministry will make a briefing today.
“At the moment there is nothing to report as we are still collecting statistics. Contact me tomorrow, I will have all the information including the number of deaths, admissions and which areas are most affected,” Zwane said briefly.

Director of Health Dr Vusi Magagula also could not shed light concerning the outbreak, saying he had just returned to Swaziland from a work related assignment.

 “People must take precautions during this time. There is nothing much I can say though until tomorrow where we will have a report about the experienced diarrhoea,” said Magagula. The ministry has only confirmed 11 deaths, but the figure was not conclusive.

The statistics of the deaths were collected at the Mbabane Government Hospital and the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital. A team had already been assigned to collect and record data from the various health institutions throughout the country.

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