Children under-5 top recorded malaria, diarrhoea c...

Children under-5 top recorded malaria, diarrhoea cases

Oscar J Jeke

Zim Now Reporter

Children under the age of five have had the most cases recorded for malaria and diarrhoea, government has revealed, saying that the highest of such cases have been recorded in diarrhoea cases.

Statistics for such age-specific cases have shown that recorded diarrhoea cases stand at 2 314 being the highest of the recorded disease cases, while Malaria figures stand at 169 cases.

Posting on X, Ministry of Health and Child Care revealed data that shows surveillance reports as per their last update on week ending 5 May, as well as cumulative figures, including children under the age of five. Diarrhoea cases recorded were 5 285 cases, reaching a cumulative figure of 113 620 cases and 40 deaths, while malaria has shown figures of 1 550, cumulative cases reaching 22 848 and 45 deaths.

The ministry also revealed that for both disease related cases, Mashonaland West Province has had the highest recorded figures with 717 recorded diarrhoea cases and 374 for malaria.

“Disease Surveillance Report as of week ending 5 May 2024. 5 285 common diarrhoea cases and one (1) death were reported this week. The death was reported from Chirumhanzu District (1) in Midlands Province. Of the reported cases, 2 314 were from children under five years of age.

“The provinces that reported the highest number of cases were Mashonaland West Province (717) and Mashonaland East Province (682). The cumulative figures for common diarrhoea are 113 620 cases and 40 deaths.

“Disease Surveillance Report as of week ending 5 May 2024. 1 550 malaria cases and 1 death were reported this week. 169 of the reported cases were from under five years of age. The death was reported from Mazowe District (1) in Mashonaland Central Province.

“The provinces that reported the highest number of cases were Mashonaland Central Province (176) and Mashonaland West Province (374). The cumulative figures for malaria cases are 22 848 and 45 deaths,” the ministry posted.

Cholera statistics were also recorded, however with no specific age across the country with figures showing that Zimbabwe had 34 016 suspected cholera cases as at 15 May, 3 964 confirmed cases, 33 247 recoveries, 87 confirmed deaths and 624 suspected deaths.