23 Sep 2019

Ministry of Health and Wellness has advised the public to be vigilant as  the diarrhoea season, September-November, has commenced.

A press release from the ministry urges members of the public to look out for diarrhoea signs and symptoms; amongst them frequent passing of watery stools.

It explains that the infection is spread through contaminated food or drinking water or from person to person due to poor hygiene practices. 

 Severe diarrhoea leads to fluid loss and may be life-threatening, particularly in young children, warns the release.

The release further advises the public to take all the necessary precautions to avoid contracting the infection by drinking safe or treated water, strictly observing personal hygiene measures such as hand washing with soap after visiting the toilet, before and after handling food and before and after feeding children. 

Food should be cooked thoroughly and should be covered to avoid contact with flies while water kept in containers should be covered and water drawn from boreholes and rivers for drinking purposes should be boiled first, says the release.

Other measures, the release says, include proper waste disposal such as human excreta/faeces, exclusively breastfeeding children, ensuring immunisation of children as per Botswana immunisation schedule and immediately visiting nearest health facilities at the onset of diarrhoeal signs and symptoms.

All health facilities are ready to provide the necessary services for the management of diarrhoea, it says. Ends