THE Ministry of Public Health is closely monitoring the indigenous community of Baramita, Region One, after several cases of vomiting and diarrhoea were detected there.The symptoms resemble those of gastro enteritis, and they have landed 60 persons at the Baramita Health Centre since their detection late last month. One person has since died from the illness, Public Health Minister Dr George Norton told the Government Information Agency (GINA).

“Some years ago, right in Parliament here, Mr Granger moved a motion for an investigation on the Commission of Inquiry into deaths in the North West District, particularly the Port Kaituma area, of children dying of gastroenteritis. For some reason or the other, there has been a closing-off of the media in terms of providing the public with information about that situation.

“We want to do it (differently). We want to be the first to let the media know that we are on top of the situation that has existed, not in Port Kaituma now, but in the village of Baramita,” Minister Norton said.

Baramita, which has a population of about 3000, with 20 satellite villages, has one health centre which is manned by a community health worker, a medic and a doctor.

According to Minister Norton, the situation is under control; however, he said, the issue is of great concern to the Public Health Ministry, and a team of officials will be deployed to the area to educate the residents about the illness and about measures they can take to avoid it.

Gastroenteritis is an infection of the digestive system. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites found in water, food, or animals. It causes a combination of diarrhoea, vomiting, and abdominal pain; cramping, nausea, and headache. Dehydration may occur as a result.

Minister Norton said there are some challenges in terms of getting into some of the satellite villages. These areas are accessible only by all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).

“We do have it under control, we have enough medication there…. The other situation is we find that the population is not cooperating. They don’t want to use the bleach in the water or the tablets that we’re using in the water, because they said it tastes bad. Secondly, they’re not carrying through with the medications we’re giving them to use, and they are not all attending the clinics, even though the clinics are there, available for them.

“So we’re running into some difficulties there. But the situation has improved from what it was from the beginning,” Minister Norton explained.

The occurrence of gastro-enteritis is seasonal, with the highest incidence occurring during the period December to March.

In 2013, there was an outbreak in the North West District, where a total of 529 residents from Port Kaituma and surrounding communities were infected, most them children. There were three reported deaths.

Prior to that, there was an outbreak in 2009, and six residents died.