Cape Town acts to curb child deaths from diarrhoea

Cape Town’s health directorate says that it is encouraged by a decline in the number of diarrhoea deaths in children‚ a pattern that shows interventions are working in the city.

While diarrhoea is both preventable and treatable worldwide‚ it remains one of the leading causes of disease and death in children under the age of five.

A consolidation of statistics for the city’s annual diarrhoea season shows that there has been a drop in the number of fatalities as well as hospital admissions.

During the warmer months - between November 2015 and May 2016 - Cape Town usually experiences a surge in diarrhoea cases‚ particularly in young children‚ said the city in a statement on Monday.

In the Cape metro‚ the number of diarrhoea deaths in this age group spiked in 2009/2010 and has since declined from 74 in 2012/13 to 20 in 2015/16. In 2012/13‚ the total number of cases amounted to 27000‚ while in 2015/16‚ the total number of cases amounted to 31436.

However‚ diarrhoea continues to be a “major concern” in Cape Town.

“The statistics are very telling. Six years ago‚ we lost nearly 200 young children to diarrhoea‚” said the city’s mayoral committee member for health‚ councillor Siyabulela Mamkeli.

“The drop in the number of fatalities speaks to the very exhaustive measures implemented to safeguard children‚ both in their environment but also to improve the care at health facilities.

“It also indicates an increased awareness among parents and caregivers of the danger signs associated with diarrhoea‚ and in addition‚ that they’re seeking medical help much sooner.”

Some of the measures introduced by authorities to curb the prevalence of diarrhoea in young children include‚ “providing Vitamin A supplements to children every six months to improve their health status‚ giving zinc supplements to children with diarrhoea to reduce the frequency and duration of diarrhoea‚ training clinic staff‚ particularly in emergency rehydration and having well-functioning oral rehydration solution corners in our clinics‚ among others”.

Mamkeli added: “We’re but a few months away from the next expected surge in cases‚ so we have to continue working hard and being vigilant to save more lives and to prevent children from contracting diarrhoea in the first place.”

- TMG Digital