According to the District Health Management Team (DHMT), at least 17 children under the age of five in Ngamiland, Botswaana have perished as a result of a terrible diarrhea and vomiting outbreak during the last two months. Dr Sandra Maripe Ebutswe, the head of DHMT, told the Northwest District Council in Maun this week of the dire situation.
She added that eight of the children di3d while receiving medical care, while nine were brought in already deceased.
In July and August, the District reported 622 cases of diarrhea and vomiting, which are thought to be caused by the extremely contagious rotavirus.
The DHMT further noted that 120 of these cases were children who were dehydrated when brought for health care.
“These numbers are high, usually we record these numbers in half a year, but we have recorded 622 in just two months,” noted Dr Maripe-Ebutswe.
In response to the crisis, Dr Maripe-Ebutswe urged the general public to practice safe hygiene and give children safe water for drinking including clean boiled water to save the young lives.
