TANZANIAN PRESIDENT JAKAYA KIKWETE DIRECTS THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND TZ MEDICAL STORES TO SUPPLY DIAGNOSTIC GEARS TO CURB DENGUE FEVER

President Jakaya Kikwete have appealed  to the ministry of health and Tanzania Medical stores  board (MSD)to supply diagnostic equipments  to all health centers in the country to curb the spread of  the mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus.

President Kikwete made the call in Arusha when he was officially addressing nurses and heath practioners gathered here to mark the worlds nursing day.

Kikwete also told the public to report to hospitals any time they feel any sense of malaria fever so that they can be properly diagnosed and well treated if found infected by the deadly virus.

He said the disease is now  pose a big threat to the country’s population  health since its outbreak in the year 2010 to date where two people are reported dead and 369 infected.

"There is a tendency of people to go to pharmacies and buy ant malaria need to visit the hospital for check up and proper medication “He said.  

He said  dengue fever symptoms  includes sudden high fever, severe headaches pain behind the eyes severe joint and muscle pain  Nausea Vomiting  Skin rash, which appears three to four days after the onset of fever Mild bleeding (such a nose and  bleeding gums  

“Sometimes symptoms are mild and can be mistaken for those of the flu or another viral.

Younger children and people who have never had the infection before tend to have milder cases than older children and adults”Kikwete said

He noted that  Kinondoni District in Dare salaam is leading in terms of infected figures where 322 people are reported to have infected by the  killer virus, followed by Ilala District with 61 victims and Temeke with  16.

  
He said there is fewer equipment to diagnose the virus therefore they should be supplied immediately to fight the plague.

In regards to the call from heath works who asked the government to provide housing and better working environment, the president assured them that it will take their demands into high consideration.

 He argued them to equip themselves academically to get more knowledge in their noble profession to save lives and fight diseases

In his part the deputy minister  for health and social welfare Dr, Stephen Kebwe, said the ministry has made remarkable progress in maternal heath and reproductive health education.

“Statistcs   from  the year  2010 to 2013   show that ninety six percent of women  and ninety seven  percent of men are aware  of  the subject “He said

 
He pointed out other success  are  the reduction of mortality rate for children under five years which had decreased from 165 deaths from 1990 to 54 death in the year  2013.