Rota Virus Outbreak: Child Mortality Increases In Imo .. As FMC Owerri Keeps Mum

By: Tochi Onyeubi
It is now an established fact that there is an outbreak of disease in the state.
Rota virus, a disease occasioned by poor hygiene which manifests in dehydration, stooling and vomiting, has continued to claim lives of children.
Hospitals in the state, have been for the past few weeks besieged by parents who brought their wards for medical treatment, raised alarm over the increasing spate of the disease.
Speaking with the State Epidemiologist, Mr Udeji Anayo who shed more light on the issue, when Trumpeta paid and unscheduled visit at the Ministry, he said the disease also known as gastroenteritis, is rampant during the dry seasons.
According to him, the virus can go on its own, but children can die from dehydration, constant stooling and vomiting, stating that, there is no known cure for it, except for supportive treatment, continuous rehydration with Oral Rehydration Therapy, ORT, Zinc replacement, maintenance of optimal level personal hygiene for the toddler.
He informed that the government is working assiduously to curb the outbreak, through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and the Disease Control Center, mandating the LGs to submit names of affected children for proper dissemination of medicines.
All efforts made to get to the Chief Medical Director, FMC Owerri, proved abortive as the Public Relations Officer of the hospital declined speaking to press.

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