By Our Correspondent
The use of antibiotics for the treatment of diarrhea is wrong and health care givers should desists from doing so as they risk complicating health matters warns the Cross River State government.
The Director General, Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency (CRSPHCDA) Betta Edu, stated this Thursday while flagging off a 3 day training for front line Primary Health Care providers organized by the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) where she called on care givers and stakeholders in the sector to embark on initiatives aimed at educating the populace on preventive measures.
“Please do not use antibiotics to treat diarrhea, there is medication for it” Betta said, adding that: “You risk complicating issues as it concerns the health of the individual. Be careful when prescribing and administering drugs as the current administration is passionate about healthcare delivery which is why it is in partnership with donor organizations to ensure the continuous supply of drugs.”
Betta disclosed that the Drug Revolving Fund was been “revitalized” and stressed the need for Cross Riverians to buy into the State Health Insurance Scheme dubbed, ‘Ayadecare’ when it eventually comes on stream.
A consultant to the Agency and facilitator at the training, Dr. Janet Ekpenyong pointed out that WHO and UNICEF recommended Zinc + Oral Rehydration Salt (ORS) as “treatment for diarrhea.”
“Fever, blood in the stool, marked thirst, body weakness and poor appetites are early symptoms of diarrhea” she said.
On the use of antibiotics to treat diarrhea, she said that: “Antibiotics can cause side effects and increase the resistance of the body to antibiotics which is not good.”
The Program Manager of CHAI in the state, Ameh Ameh in his remarks said the training which will see different sets of frontline primary healthcare providers participating with the overall goal of the exercise been the improvement of knowledge of correct use and effectiveness of ZINC + ORS.
Leave feedback about this