26 March 2008
Maputo — The health authorities in the northern Mozambican province of Nampula have sent more doctors to strengthen the team in the Cholera Treatment Centre (CTC), in the provincial capital, Nampula City, reports Wednesday's issue of the Maputo daily "Noticias".
Since the Nampula cholera outbreak began on Saturday, 29 people have been diagnosed with the disease, but so far no deaths have been reported.
The head of the community health services at the Nampula provincial health directorate, Antonio Salimo, told reporters on Tuesday that "20 patients are still receiving treatment at the Nampula CTC, and nine others have been discharged".
He stressed, however, that the current epidemiological situation in the province calls for a strengthening of the medical team at the CTC to respond effectively to the growing numbers of patients.
It was found that most of the cholera patients come from Nampula neighbourhoods suffering from a serious shortage of clean drinking water and poor sanitation conditions, namely Namicopo, Muatala, Muhala, and Murrapaniua.
Reporters visiting the CTC saw many relatives of admitted patients refusing to abide by orders to protect themselves against any contamination during the visiting hours.
Another serious concern of the health authorities is the cleaning of the premises of the CTC, which had been closed for 18 months, after the end of the last outbreak of the disease in the province.
The health authorities are still awaiting results of samples sent to the provincial laboratory from Memba district, where many people have been taken ill with acute diarrhea. It has yet to be confirmed whether these are cases of cholera.
Bm/pf (275)
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