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Diarrhoea kills 31 in Zimbabwe
26/07/2007 11:39 - (SA)
Harare - Thirty-one people died from diarrhoea in western Zimbabwe after relatives were unable to prepare rehydration solution because there was no sugar, said reports on Thursday.
The outbreak took place in Gokwe district last month, said the official Herald daily. It was reported that children under the age of five were the most affected.
Deputy health minister Edwin Muguti said: "I can confirm that 14 people have died in Siamchembo area in Gokwe North while another 17 died in Masita in Gokwe South."
Villagers were usually told to prepare a simple rehydration solution using salt and sugar for diarrhoea patients. But sugar shortages meant it was impossible in many cases to make the life-sustaining mixture.
Boiled water 'can save lives'
Muguti said: "Most homes failed to prepare the oral rehydration solution because of the sugar shortage in their areas.
This contributed to the high death rate. They could still have saved lives by simply boiling water and observing basic hygiene standards."
There were chronic shortages of most basic goods in Zimbabwe, including sugar, bread, cooking oil and meat.
The situation had been worsened since the government last month launched a crackdown on high prices, which saw many goods disappearing from the formal market and reappearing on the black market at much higher prices.
Lack of clean water, especially in arid rural areas was also a massive problem that contributed to the spread of disease. The deputy health minister said the diarrhoea outbreak in Gokwe was now under control.
Sapa-dpa
- SAPA
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Zimbabwe Special Report
