Three children die after taking bilharzia medication

Three children aged between five and eight died after severely reacting to bilharzia and intestinal worms medication that is being administered to children under the mass drug administration campaign currently under way in primary schools.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr Gerald Gwinji told the ZBC News that the three deaths were recorded in Budiriro and Kambuzuma suburbs in Harare and in Redcliff, Kwekwe.

Dr Gwinji confirmed that all the three had taken tablets that are being administered under the mass drug administration of bilharzia and intestinal worms.

The three children are reported to have started vomiting and developed diarrhoea the same day that they had taken the medication, and died shortly after.

According to Gwinji the parents or guardians of the three children did not seek quick medical attention after their children started showing reactions to the medication. Dr Gwinji said it is important to report any severe side effects when children have taken medication.

The bilharzia and intestinal worms mass drug administration exercise is targeting at least four million children and is being carried out in both primary and secondary schools as well as designated health facilities across the country.

The campaign began on the 28th of last month and was initially expected to last for five days, but due to overwhelming response, the exercise has been extended.

Parents have generally been complaining of lack of adequate information dissemination by the Ministry on the programme.

Several parents complained of seeing their children coming home sickly after school and reporting to have had drugs administered on them without the parents' knowledge.