From Isaac Job, Uyo
Akwa Ibom state government has alerted the public on the outbreak of cholera in Emeroke community, Eastern Obolo local government area of the state.
The outbreak is characterized by symptoms of diarrhea occasioned by vomiting, with some undisclosed number of fatalities .
Daily Sun gathered that health officials have been dispatched from a secondary health facility in the state to ascertain the exact number of cases and casualties
However, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Patrick Essiet, has confirmed the outbreak in a statement made available to Daily Sun while the state epidemiologist has been sent to the affected community for enlightenment campaigns on measures to mitigate the outbreak.
The statement reads in parts :
“The Ministry of Health hereby advises members of the community and the environs that, as an immediate intervention, proper hand washing should be done, especially after defecation and boiling of drinking water before consumption, while all persons with symptoms of diarrhoea or vomiting should seek immediate treatment at the nearest health facility
“Furthermore, the Ministry reminds community leaders to enforce the existing ban on open defecation by the government.
“While the State Government is working on a long-term solution, the Ministry is currently mobilising supplies to the community as an immediate and short-term measure.”
It therefore advised the public to report all suspected cases of Cholera to the Director of Public health, ministry of health.
