The Ministry of Health urged the Preps Needed to Prevent Possible AWD Outbreak

 

The Ministry of Health urged the need to undertake the necessary preparations to prevent possible Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD) outbreak following the upcoming wet season.

The Minister, Prof Yifru Birhane briefed the media on the comprehensive work need to be done to prevent AWD outbreak and the status of the outbreak in the Ethiopian Somali state.

Stating that wet season and high humidity is a favorable condition for the outbreak of the disease, the minister urged the public to improve sanitation and hygiene.

As the disease is prone to areas with low standard of sanitation and hygiene, Prof Yifru said it is important to work in an integrated way to improve those services.

Regarding the outbreak in the Ethiopian Somali state, the minister said that it has managed to control the prevalence of the disease.

According to him, the Ministry has been working with the regional health bureau and religious leaders to control the disease that broke out in nine zones in the state.

Mobile health stations have also been established in the state to control the spread of the disease.

Because of the concerted efforts, the number of people affected by the disease has declined to 259 from the previous 750 per dayy, Prof Yifru said.

Over 500 health professionals drawn from the states of Tigray, Amhara and Harari as well as from Haramaya and Jigjiga universities, deployed to the affected areas have made paramount contribution in controlling the prevalence, he said

source www.ena.gov.et