The Ministry of Health’s FEMAT support team was able to cover 152 communities in Rakiraki during their 2 weeks outreach program.

Permanent Secretary of Health Dr James Fong says the teams have been able to see a total of 1,530 patients of which 132 were suspected of leptospirosis, 10 were suspected of typhoid and 11 cases were retrieved.

He says of the cases retrieved, 2 were confirmed for typhoid, and 4 were confirmed for leptospirosis.

Dr Fong further says substantial reductions in admissions, severe cases needing transfer to Lautoka Hospital, and LTDD deaths from the Ra Medical Area is a well-documented impact of the FEMAT supported outreach program in Rakiraki.

He adds the typhoid fever situation in Rakiraki has also been largely contained with 7 cases from one area of which there were 3 deaths.