Damascus-SANA
The response of the Ministry of Health to prevent the transmission and entry of cholera into Syria began since the spread of the disease in the Sulaymaniyah Governorate in northern Iraq by issuing a circular that includes strengthening epidemiological surveillance at border crossings, especially for those coming from Iraq, according to what was explained by the Director of Communicable and Chronic Diseases in the Ministry, Dr. Zuhair Al-Sahwi.
Dr. Al-Sahwi told SANA that it was stressed the need to inform health directorates about suspected cases, emphasizing epidemiological surveillance in hospitals according to the standard definition of cholera, informing health directorates and the directorate of communicable and chronic diseases about suspected cases, circulating the form for its investigation, in addition to distributing awareness brochures.
After a number of confirmed cases of the disease were recorded in a governorate, a request was made to intensify epidemiological surveillance of any case in hospitals, to investigate contacts, to allocate isolation rooms for suspected cases, and to purify the patient's facilities, in addition to collecting samples from the sewage and water network in cooperation with the concerned authorities, especially from the areas in which they are detected. Infection cases, tightening control over water safety, putting chlorine in it, and giving preventive treatment to those in contact.
Al-Sahwi revealed that a circular has been sent to the school health to monitor cases of diarrhea among students and educational staff, refer suspected cases to health hospitals and inform the concerned health directorates, in addition to replacing unusable water tanks, periodic cleaning and sterilization, changing damaged health installations, and maintaining cleanliness and disinfection of toilets daily. Providing safe water and soap and preventing street vendors from being near schools in cooperation with the concerned authorities and educating students about the importance of personal hygiene.
In the same context, Dr. Al-Sahwi stated that it was stressed the importance of following up on seminars and canteens in schools and providing health conditions in them in terms of hygiene and safety of consumables, keeping them in good conditions, ensuring the personal hygiene of food providers, providing them with a health card, and freeing them from transmitted diseases, limiting them to packaged foods and mechanically packed drinks, and refraining from Meals prepared inside the symposium.
With regard to cooperation with the ministries, Al-Sahwi pointed out that a circular was directed to each of the Ministries of Education, Local Administration, Environment, Water Resources, Endowments, Tourism, Internal Trade, Consumer Protection, Defense, Interior, Higher Education, and Scientific Research to take the necessary measures to prevent the occurrence and spread of the disease, each in its field of competence, duties and responsibilities, and emphasizing the necessary procedures. Follow it on the health directorates in the governorates to prevent the spread of the disease, in cooperation and coordination with the relevant authorities in the governorate, especially the safety of water and food.
Al-Sahwi indicated that extensive meetings and continuous cooperation and coordination with international organizations and donors are being held to provide technical and logistical support for "vaccines, medicines, individual means of protection and laboratory materials", pointing out that a treatment protocol for sick cases has been prepared for distribution to all health institutions.
Al-Sahwi indicated that coordination is being carried out with the Directorate of Communication and Executive Support in the Ministry to prepare health awareness brochures and publications for health workers, community members and those who deal with food and drink about the disease, its transmission and prevention methods, with the aim of raising the level of community awareness and broadcasting messages in the media, since awareness is the basis for disease prevention. .
Al-Sahwi explained that work is underway to form a national committee to study the epidemiological situation related to acute non-specific diarrhoea in light of the injuries that occurred and the surrounding environmental conditions, to develop a control plan and precautionary and preventive measures, and to supervise their implementation at all levels, and to prepare a draft national plan to combat acute non-specific diarrhoea.
Rama Rashidi
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