Diarrhoea outbreak in Eldibir, Galmudug, with no hospital nearby

Thursday June 20, 2019

Two children have died and 300 others are infected in a diarrhoea outbreak in Eldibir village, Galmudug state health ministry has reported.

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The ministry dispatched a delegation led by Dr Mohamed Ali Kahiye to assess the situation in Eldibir.

Speaking to Radio Ergo by phone, Dr Mohamed said that the first batch of patients with symptoms of diarrhoea was reported two weeks ago.

Two children, a girl aged four and a boy aged seven, died last week due to lack of treatment.

Most of the 300 patients, including 180 children, are staying at their homes as the village has no hospital.

The doctor attributed the outbreak of the disease to the lack of clean water and the hot weather, saying that locals are drawing dirty water from boreholes.

“We assessed the situation. The sun is overhead there and it is hot. There was little rain. People are drinking unclean water from the boreholes. Most probably the cause of the disease might be these two factors,” he said.

Dr Mohamed said they took eight people whose condition had deteriorated to Galkayo hospital for treatment. Galkayo town is 180 km away.

“Their health was not good; we transported them to the town. The patients were suffering from uncontrollable diarrhoea and vomiting,” he said.

Abdikadir Mohamed Guleid, the father of the seven-year-old boy who died, said he felt helpless as his son was sick for a week.

He failed to secure the $300 he needed to pay for transport to take his child to Galkayo.

“At first the boy started passing loose watery stool and had a high fever. There is no hospital in the area and I was unable to take him to the town,” Abdikadir told Radio Ergo by phone.

Abdirahman Ali Ahmed, who owns a private clinic in Eldibir, said he was seeing around 10 people a day with diarrhoea. He charges for his services.

“I check the person’s temperature then I give them what I can to deal with the disease including a drip and oral rehydration salt solution. Those in serious condition are referred to Galkayo hospital,” Abdirahman told Radio Ergo.

Two of Sa’adiyo Mohamud Ali’s children have fallen sick with diarhoea.

“For the last four days, I have been coming to this clinic. I could not take these children to Galkayo town for treatment because I don’t have money. I already have a debt to the owner of the clinic in the village,” she told Radio Ego by phone.

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