Charles Ekanem|23 September 2016
Anti BIOTIC Is Not The Right Treatment For Diarrhoea, Dr Betta Edu Advises Healthcare Givers.
Dr Betta Edu, Director General of Cross River State Primary Healthcare Agency (CRSPHCDA) recently at the Conference Room of the Agency flagged off a 3 days training for front line primary healthcare providers and advised them to desist from giving antibiotic drugs to Diarrhoea patients, while urging them to organize sensitization outreached in the communities, markets, churches and schools on how to prevent Diarrhoea and the dangers of not treating diarrhoea, or using the wrong drugs while reminding them that 15 minutes talk can save lives.
She assured them of State Government readiness under the leadership of His Excellency, Sen (Prof) Ben Ayade to continue collaborating with partners to supply ZINC + ORS to health centers. She noted that drug revolving fund policy is being revitalised by AYADECARE also known as State Health Insurance Scheme about to kick start, however presently the drugs are available and affordable at PMV everywhere in the state (N100).
Facilitator of the training for CHAI, Dr Janet Ekpenyong, a consultant with the Agency while delivering her presentation noted that WHO, UNICEF in 2004 recommended ZINC + Oral Rehydration Salt (ORS) as treatment for diarrhea. She counsel the caregivers on symptoms and when to take the child for treatment at a health facility. She noted that fever, blood in the stool, marked thirst, weakness in body, eating and drinking poorly are symptoms that should make them refer patients to clinic or health center. Finally, she said antibiotics can cause side effects and increase antibiotics resistance in the body.
Mr Ameh Ameh, Program Manager, CHAI, in his remarks said the training will continue for 3 days for different set of front line primary healthcare providers while noting that the overall goal of the exercise is to improve providers knowledge of correct use and effectiveness of ZINC + ORS as a treatment for Diarrhoea.
Healthcare providers across the LGAs promised to take the message back home and implement it for the betterment of the sector, while thanking CHAI, CRSPHCDA for the opportunity granted them to be part of the exercise.
Charles Ekanem
Writes from Calabar
