Diarrhoea kills 9 at Walvis Bay

NINE people have died from dehydration caused by diarrhoea in the Walvis Bay State Hospital since the beginning of the month.

In the same period, 365 people, of whom 72 were younger than five years, received treatment. Yesterday alone, 67 people sought medical attention at the casualty ward and five clinics.Not all of them were hospitalised.The Walvis Bay State Hospital’s Primary Health Care Supervisor, Magdalena Kusch, told The Namibian yesterday that people were dying from the dehydration caused by diarrhoea.”Most of the fluid in the human body is water.The body is just like a plant,” she said, “it can’t survive without water.”She believes the water restrictions implemented in the town for a number of weeks now are one of the contributing factors.”Personal hygiene is neglected due to a shortage of clean water and that is the main cause of the situation.Diarrhoea can be prevented through cleanliness.”Kusch said an uncommon heat wave that hit the coast last week added to the misery because food spoilt easier than usual and excessive numbers of flies hatched.At the Welwitschia Hospital in Walvis Bay, 13 people have been treated for diarrhoea since the beginning of March.None of these cases was fatal.Matron Alet Walters said the number of people seeking treatment there is dwindling.No new cases were reported at the hospital over the weekend.”Things seem to be returning to normal since we have enough clean water and cooler temperatures,” she said.According to Walters, 33 people were treated for diarrhoea at the Welwitschia Hospital during March last year.In most cases, the patients were adults.Kusch said people showing symptoms such as fever, extreme thirst, vomiting, watery stools and a loss of appetite should seek medical help urgently.The Ministry of Health and Social Services, in conjunction with the municipality, has distributed thousands of flyers at schools and the most affected areas.The flyers are meant to educate the community on the importance of good hygiene and include guidelines such as keeping drinking water in clean containers, boiling drinking water, washing hands regularly with soap and clean water and keeping flies away from food and utensils.Kevin Adams, spokesperson of the municipality, told The Namibian that insecticide had been sprayed at places in and around town where flies breed.He said the town’s water supply was tested last week by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) and was declared completely safe for human consumption.According to Adams, the health situation should improve, since water is now available throughout the day.Restrictions will remain in force at night until the town’s reservoirs reach satisfactory levels.Yesterday alone, 67 people sought medical attention at the casualty ward and five clinics.Not all of them were hospitalised. The Walvis Bay State Hospital’s Primary Health Care Supervisor, Magdalena Kusch, told The Namibian yesterday that people were dying from the dehydration caused by diarrhoea.”Most of the fluid in the human body is water.The body is just like a plant,” she said, “it can’t survive without water.”She believes the water restrictions implemented in the town for a number of weeks now are one of the contributing factors.”Personal hygiene is neglected due to a shortage of clean water and that is the main cause of the situation.Diarrhoea can be prevented through cleanliness.”Kusch said an uncommon heat wave that hit the coast last week added to the misery because food spoilt easier than usual and excessive numbers of flies hatched. At the Welwitschia Hospital in Walvis Bay, 13 people have been treated for diarrhoea since the beginning of March.None of these cases was fatal.Matron Alet Walters said the number of people seeking treatment there is dwindling.No new cases were reported at the hospital over the weekend.”Things seem to be returning to normal since we have enough clean water and cooler temperatures,” she said.According to Walters, 33 people were treated for diarrhoea at the Welwitschia Hospital during March last year.In most cases, the patients were adults.Kusch said people showing symptoms such as fever, extreme thirst, vomiting, watery stools and a loss of appetite should seek medical help urgently.The Ministry of Health and Social Services, in conjunction with the municipality, has distributed thousands of flyers at schools and the most affected areas.The flyers are meant to educate the community on the importance of good hygiene and include guidelines such as keeping drinking water in clean containers, boiling drinking water, washing hands regularly with soap and clean water and keeping flies away from food and utensils.Kevin Adams, spokesperson of the municipality, told The Namibian that insecticide had been sprayed at places in and around town where flies breed.He said the town’s water supply was tested last week by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) and was declared completely safe for human consumption.According to Adams, the health situation should improve, since water is now available throughout the day.Restrictions will remain in force at night until the town’s reservoirs reach satisfactory levels.