During December 2010, the Western Cape Provincial Department of Health put measures in place to reduce the high case load of children with diarrhoea in the province. The Department's action plan to combat diarrhoea will continue until April 2011. During this period, the Department has and will implement measures to optimally manage children with Diarrhoea. The Department in collaboration with the City of Cape Town and community based health organizations has developed an integrated strategy to deal with the seasonal surges of diarrhea in especially 'hot-spot' areas.
These interventions at Primary Health Care facilities include:
Steps taken to raise awareness to prevent and manage diarrhoea include:
" Too many babies and young children die as a result of diarrhea. This is very sad, given that there are some basic guidelines to follow when a child suffers from this disease. I urge parents to use the opportunities and the services offered at community health centres. Take your children to these facilities as soon as there are signs of diarrhoea." Minister Theuns Botha said.
Diarrhoea is prevalent during summer when infection spreads quickly through food and water contamination. It is most common in children between 0-5 years of age. If a child is suffering with severe diarrhoea symptoms and given immediate treatment and proper care, she/he can recover completely in a few days. The disease occurs commonly where there are shared water and sanitation facilities. The hotspots in the Cape Town Metropole where most cases of fatal diarrhoea were reported the previous summer are Gugulethu, Nyanga, Khayelitsha, Delft, Bloekombos, Walacedene, Langa, Du Noon, Imizamo Yethu, Crossroads and Brown's farm.
Issued by the Directorate: Communications for the Western Cape Department of Health.
Zolani Zenzile
Tel: 021 483 2904
Cell: 078 519 3636
Sithembiso Magubane
Tel: 021 483 9881
Cell: 071 315 3581