Diarrhoea, dysentry cases rise

 By GABRIEL LAHOC

HEALTH authorities in Bulolo have confirmed that there is a rise in diarrhoea and dysentery cases at the Bubu care centre.

But they have ruled out a cholera outbreak as claimed earlier.

The Bulolo district health and Morobe provincial disaster and emergency services officials have prioritised awareness as the main programme to contain the outbreak of diarrhoea and dysentery at the care centre where displaced Bubu settlers are living after the recent ethnic clash with the Watuts.

Charlie Masange, the director of the Morobe provincial disaster and emergency services, confirmed this yesterday but could not give the latest figures.

The first report said more than 86 diarrhoea cases were treated at the care centre.

“The important thing is awareness to promote healthy living to cut down on further victims,” Masange said.

He said from an initial assessment, healthy living and hygiene were not practised by most of the settlers who were small scale alluvial gold miners.

“Many of them after a tired day panning for gold are too busy to go home and cook and usually buy and eat cooked food from the roadside markets without cleaning themselves or washing their hands,” he said.

The Morobe provincial disaster and emergency services has assisted the district health officials with vehicles to carry out awareness and health education programmes.