By Onomiguren Agbamu
Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, has, said the State Government has been able to curtail the spread of cholera disease in the state.
Onojaeme disclosed this on Tuesday to newsmen in Asaba, during a press briefing, said Cholera was a disease of National outbreak and so far the country had experience three outbreaks this year.
The Health Commissioner, further added that the state has recorded a total of 138 cases of Cholera with seven deaths since the epidemic broke across the country in February this year, revealing that majority of the cases were young children.
Onojaeme, also noted that the seven casualties recorded were during the first epidemic, and apart from that, the state has no other casualty recorded in the second and third epidemics.
According to the commissioner: “the signs and symptoms are basically passage of watery low stool, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance among others.
“The State has recorded 138 cases in Warri South-West which is the local government it started and in the second and third outbreak we had seven cases in Bomadi and one in Oshimili South.
“We have been able to curtail the disease in Delta State and the disease surveillance and notification officers across the state have been able to carry out a lot of advocacies to our people to educate them about the cause of the disease.
“Cholera is mainly a disease of poor sanitary environment, and we have educated them about simple handwashing and not taking unclean water. We have also provided tablets to purify some of these unclean waters.
“So far so good, since about six weeks now in Warri South-West where it started from, we had only 20 suspected cases and the majority of the cases we noticed we have treated and it’s basically under control.
“We are doing a lot of advocacies and the risk factors are basically poor sanitary condition and reduced stomach acid. Cholera has an incubation period of 12 days and within this period somebody not showing these symptoms can spread it through feces and urine to other persons.
“Staying with somebody with the bacteria is a big risk factor to contact the bacteria from that person, so maintaining hygiene is very key to eliminating Cholera from our environment, and it is common among villages along the water bank.
“In Delta State we have eight local governments that are of high risk viz; Warri South, Warri South-West, Warri North, Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Patani, Bomadi and Burutu.
“The Ministry has curtailed the disease within the high-risk local government areas and the Epidemiology unit of the Ministry is doing a lot of surveillance on these patients and it is fully under control.”
ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS
The commissioner for environment, Hon. Jamani Tommy Ejiro has disclosed the ministry of environment is working with the health ministry to ensure the state curtail the spread of the disease.
Jamani disclosed this at the state secretariat, during an interview, said the ministry of environment is doing all within her purview to maintain a clean and hygienic environment.
Jamani revealed that, the ministry has been going from one facility to another, especially those that produces consumable goods to sensitize and educate them on the importance of clean and hygienic environment.
Tommy added that during the tour, the ministry also educate Deltans to cultivate the habit of keeping clean environment. He noted that campaigns and reaching out to market environment was also a key because of the direct contact to consumers.
ON WATER.
The commissioner for water resources, Hon. Isaac Tosan Wilkie also said the state government provided clean and drinkable water for Deltans for every local government, adding that the state government is going to do more to ensure everyone get clean and drinkable water.
The Commissioner for health was flanked by the State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza and Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Festus Ahon.
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