Liberia: Two Died, Several Affected As Diarrhea Hits Maryland
10 January 2008
Posted to the web 10 January 2008
Sallu Swaray
Health authority in Monrovia has confirmed 163 diarrhea cases and two deaths in the Southeastern region of Maryland County.
Acting Chief Medical Officer of Liberia, Dr. Moses Pewu, told a news conference at the headquarters of UNMIL Wednesday that the health situation in Maryland and Grand Kru Counties has worsen in recent time with the epidemic spread of the water borne disease such as diarrhea.
Dr. Pewo said in December of last year, several communities in Harper including Up Cape, New Kru Town, Old Kru Town, Barrobo Community, Bishop Ferguson Hill, Nekanbo, Bassa Community, Karloken and Hence Street were hard hit by the diarrhea.
According to him, about 163 diarrhea patients were on January 9, 2008 treated at the only Referral Hospital, J.J. Dossen Hospital while the total of 49 patients with severe were admitted.
Dr. Pewu told the news conference that the County health team of Maryland has accordingly reported two deaths including females under the ages of 27 and 15 respectively.
Apart from the conditions in Harper, he said a local Ngo, MERCI has reported 88 cases of diarrhea in Plebo. Pleebo, which is about 45 minutes drive from Harper, is the second largest city. Though their cases were severe, he said they were discharged having been treated with IV infusion.
Also in Garaway in Grand Kru County, Dr. Pewu said, there were 3 suspected cases of cholera with two deaths. Commenting on laboratory test, he said tests were conducted on seven specimens collected from Maryland. He said analysis proved that one of the 7 cases proved to be positive for fibro cholera type 01.
He furthered that the WHO has intervened with the provision of medical and non medical supplies including 200 sachets of oral rehydration salt, 40 bottles of 500ml ringers lactate with 40 tubing, 5 cakes of hand washing soap, 500 pieces of health cards, among others.
Dr. Pewu disclosed that Merlin was able to provide drugs such as doxycycline, ringers and oral dehydration salt as an initial support to the eradication of the epidemic.
"The County health team along with the Danish Refugee Council (ICRC) has begun chlorinating wells. They are also giving hygiene promotion messages and video films on protection and hygiene safety", he disclosed.
10 January 2008
Posted to the web 10 January 2008
Sallu Swaray
Health authority in Monrovia has confirmed 163 diarrhea cases and two deaths in the Southeastern region of Maryland County.
Acting Chief Medical Officer of Liberia, Dr. Moses Pewu, told a news conference at the headquarters of UNMIL Wednesday that the health situation in Maryland and Grand Kru Counties has worsen in recent time with the epidemic spread of the water borne disease such as diarrhea.
Dr. Pewo said in December of last year, several communities in Harper including Up Cape, New Kru Town, Old Kru Town, Barrobo Community, Bishop Ferguson Hill, Nekanbo, Bassa Community, Karloken and Hence Street were hard hit by the diarrhea.
According to him, about 163 diarrhea patients were on January 9, 2008 treated at the only Referral Hospital, J.J. Dossen Hospital while the total of 49 patients with severe were admitted.
Dr. Pewu told the news conference that the County health team of Maryland has accordingly reported two deaths including females under the ages of 27 and 15 respectively.
Apart from the conditions in Harper, he said a local Ngo, MERCI has reported 88 cases of diarrhea in Plebo. Pleebo, which is about 45 minutes drive from Harper, is the second largest city. Though their cases were severe, he said they were discharged having been treated with IV infusion.
Also in Garaway in Grand Kru County, Dr. Pewu said, there were 3 suspected cases of cholera with two deaths. Commenting on laboratory test, he said tests were conducted on seven specimens collected from Maryland. He said analysis proved that one of the 7 cases proved to be positive for fibro cholera type 01.
He furthered that the WHO has intervened with the provision of medical and non medical supplies including 200 sachets of oral rehydration salt, 40 bottles of 500ml ringers lactate with 40 tubing, 5 cakes of hand washing soap, 500 pieces of health cards, among others.
Dr. Pewu disclosed that Merlin was able to provide drugs such as doxycycline, ringers and oral dehydration salt as an initial support to the eradication of the epidemic.
"The County health team along with the Danish Refugee Council (ICRC) has begun chlorinating wells. They are also giving hygiene promotion messages and video films on protection and hygiene safety", he disclosed.