“GARBATULLA , (IRIN) – An acute water shortage in parts of eastern and northeastern Kenya is fuelling the spread of acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) and cholera, with deaths from new cases being reported, a senior health official has said.
“People are resorting to drinking water from anywhere because of the shortage,” Shahnaaz Sharif, director of public health in the Ministry of Public Health, told IRIN. “
Recently, four deaths have been reported in Garbatulla [District] where about 280 AWD cases have been reported in the last three weeks,” Sharif said, adding that samples from those affected had been collected for laboratory testing.
Three new cholera cases have also been reported in Laisamis District and two in Moyale District.
“In total, 24 cholera deaths and 1,452 cases of diarrhoea have been recorded since January,” he said. Cholera is an acute, diarrheal illness. Although infection is often mild, death can occur within hours without treatment, due to dehydration.
According to a resident of Laisamis, Mohamed Kochalle, some of those affected are self-medicating using traditional herbs, as they cannot access health facilities.
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“A half litre [bottle] of water is selling at Ksh.100 [about US$1.3]… even higher than petrol.” “
Article Source: IRIN
