The silent killer that continues to claim children's lives

Medical experts have warned that malaria and HIV have monopolised interventions geared towards curbing child mortality in Tanzania, thus ignoring the equally deadly killer, diarrhoea.

 

This disease has silently claimed the lives of hundreds of children every year. Many children - particularly those in rural areas and urban slums - continue to succumb to the condition every year, even as the country strives to realise the Millennium Development Goals of reducing child mortality.

 

Healthcare providers emphasise that diarrhoea is a key factor in child mortality.

 

Many preventable deaths from diarrhoea among children arise from what is referred to as 'the three delays' in the medical fraternity. The mother or guardian delays taking the child to the hospital for one reason or another usually it's because many people think this condition can be easily controlled and treated by self medication.See More