ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Five additional deaths have been recorded in the Igudagu village of Okpuitumo community, Abakaliki Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, following a cholera outbreak.
This brings the total death toll from the outbreak to 18, with 80 confirmed cases across three local government areas, according to the State Commissioner for Health, Moses Ekuma.
Speaking on Monday, Ekuma provided an update on the situation, confirming that 11 new cases have emerged in the Okpuitumo community.
“Earlier, we had recorded 69 cases and 13 deaths. However, as of yesterday, we had a fresh outbreak in another local government area, with five deaths and 11 cases in Igudagu village.
“The total now stands at 80 cases and 18 deaths across Abakaliki, Ebonyi, and Izzi LGAs,” he said.
The commissioner assured the public that the 11 individuals affected in the Okpuitumo community are receiving treatment, with the state’s Rapid Response Team already deployed to provide immediate intervention and implement preventive control measures.
“We have set up preventive measures to contain the spread. The Rapid Response Team has been deployed to the affected areas, and cholera treatment units have been activated. Health commodities have also been sent to the communities,” Ekuma explained.
He added, “Apart from the five people who died before the Rapid Response Team’s intervention, no other deaths have been recorded in this fresh outbreak. The 11 affected persons are responding positively to treatment.”
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Efforts are also being made to raise awareness in the communities.
Health personnel are conducting educational campaigns, while public messages on radio and television emphasize hygiene practices like regular hand washing with clean water and soap to prevent further spread.
“We are working hard to educate the public about preventive measures. Health workers are educating communities, and we have jingles on radio and TV to spread awareness.
“We’ve also been able to contain the outbreak in Ndibokote village, Ezza Inyimagu in Izzi LGA, where 10 deaths were initially reported,” Ekuma stated.
He hinted that the state government is committed to the well-being of its citizens, addressing the root causes of the outbreak, including the lack of access to clean water and open defecation practices.
Also, he noted that the Ministry of Water Resources is working to restore water supply in affected communities, while efforts to enforce anti-open defecation laws continue.
“The Ebonyi water schemes have been activated, and the Ministry of Water Resources is working hard to restore water supplies across the state. We are also collaborating with the Ministry of Environment to tackle open defecation.
“It’s a cultural issue that won’t change overnight, but with continuous health education, we can address it. A law has already been passed in the state against open defecation,” Ekuma explained.
He concluded by stressing the importance of improving sanitation and access to clean water to prevent future cholera outbreaks, adding, “This is a disease of poor sanitation. Once we improve our environment and provide safe drinking water, cholera will become a thing of the past.”