Delta: Cholera Epidemic Averted in Isoko South LG
LAGOS APRIL 15TH (URHOBOTODAY)-The Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State has scaled up its fight against cholera epedimic in Umeh and Erowha communities.
The Chairman of the council, Mr Itiako Ikpokpo, said this in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Fidelis Akpotha.
He said that public enlightenment and provision of water supply had been intensified in the area to prevent disease.
The two neighbouring communities were hit by a cholera epidemic in 2010, leaving at least, 30 people dead.
Local health authorities blamed the situation on a polluted river that runs through Umeh and Erowha, which serves as the people’s main source of drinking water.
According to the statement, the latest outbreak occurred in the first week of March, affecting scores of the villagers, majority of who are peasant farmers.
“But rather than seek medical help at the Primary Health Centre in Umeh, they resorted to traditional herbalists and self-medication.
“It was after the disease had claimed five lives that the villagers brought it to the knowledge of the local government,” it said.
The statement said that the chairman directed the Heads of Departments of Health and Environment in the council to temporarily relocate to the affected communities.
It added that the council also deployed competent personnel from various primary healthcare centres across the local government equipped with sufficient drugs and other needed facilities.
“The chairman also approved immediate distribution of bottled and sachet water to all households in the two communities.
“The professional healthcare providers embarked on an aggressive sensitisation of the people on the need to boil their water before use and promptly report any suspected case of the disease to local authorities.
“Confirmed cases were treated in the field, while a majority of the people thronged the Umeh Primary Healthcare Centre and a temporary treatment centre at the Erowha Primary School.
“The health officials gave them tips on how to combat the disease in addition to examination and administration of preventive drugs,” the statement said.
It added that the chairman paid an assessment visit to the communities during which he directed that an abandoned SURE-P water project at Umeh be immediately completed.
Besides, the council awarded contract for the drilling of two water boreholes in Erowha to enhance the people’s access to potable water.
In less than three days after the chairman’s intervention, according to the statement, the abandoned Umeh Water Scheme was resuscitated with outlets in strategic places for easy access by the people
The Chief Epidemiologist of the Ministry of Health, Dr Charles Ofili, stated that the chairman’s prompt response and physical visit to the affected communities was unprecedented in the history of Delta.
Also, a prominent indigene of Umeh, Mr Duncan Afohokor, applauded the quick intervention of the council, describing it as commendable and “a proof that government could indeed work.”
While noting that no more death had been recorded since the intervention, Afohokor thanked Ikpokpo for his effort at resuscitating the community water project.
