Diarrhea kills 23 in Maluku

Diarrhea kills 23 in Maluku

AMBON, Maluku: At least 23 toddlers have died from diarrhea in
the past month in Ambalau district, Buru regency, Maluku.

The chief of Ambalau district, Ruslan Makatita, blamed the
large number of deaths on a shortage of medical professionals in
the area. There are only two nurses for thousands of people in
the district, said Ruslan on Tuesday.

He said he had filed a report with the Buru regency government
asking for help dealing with the outbreak.

The deputy head of the Maluku provincial health office, Fenno
Tahalele, confirmed the outbreak of diarrhea but gave a lower
fatality figure.

Fenno said that according to a report from the Maluku
provincial administration secretary, five toddlers had died in
Ambalau, not 23. -- JP