Health officials registers more cases of diarrhea in two facilities in Aweil

Northern Bahr El Ghazal state said on Wednesday it registered 72 cases of diarrhea in two health facilities.

The health surveillance officer of Northern Bahr El Ghazal state, Ungom Autiak from Aweil Center County told the Juba Echo that among the 72 cases are children and lactating mothers.

Autiak said blamed the diarrhea cases on poor hygiene conditions.

“Babies who have not completed six months undeservedly qualify to get other foods apart from breast milk, some mothers take it upon themselves and give them food which leads to diarrhea,” he said.

Autiak cautioned lactating mothers to avoid giving children under six months extra food apart from breast milk.

“It is good if you allow your baby to complete six month with breast milk and give then afterwards provide them with other foodstuff like cow milk and water,” Autiak said.

At least 36 cases of diarrhea have been recorded between October and November in Aweil civil hospital alone and the remaining cases in Aweil Center County.

Adhot Ayom Malual, a mother in Aweil praised medics for providing timely information to the public.

She urged breastfeeding mothers to heed to the advice of the medics.

 “It is true that our lactating mothers hardly follow the breastfeeding steps, at times you could come from where you are and reach home and just start breast feeding while you are getting hotter and breast feed the baby. That one alone brings infection in the stomach of the baby,” Ayom said.

Northern Bahr El Ghazal state always experiences dry season from January till May where many diarrhea cases occur.