Abia State Government, Monday confirmed the outbreak of cholera in an Abia community of Amaogwugwu in Umuahia North LGA.
Since Wednesday last week, three people have died, many, including an 8-month baby, hospitalized and more than 30 discharged from the health center in the community.
Monitoring the situation, the state commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Osuji said his ministry is monitoring the situation and has deployed officials and drugs to the community so as to help stabilize affected persons.
The commissioner, who was with the state epidemiology team, World Health Organization, WHO and USAID team said they were ready to battle the outbreak, and to support the patients and the community.
“The state and the agencies are tracing the source of the outbreak, if it is from the source of drinking water and to see how to sanitize it”, he said.
He highlighted the symptoms to include watery stool, frequent stooling, weakness, abdominal cramp, and dizziness, among others, urging people with the symptoms to report to the health center for treatment.
The President General of the community Mr. Kelechi Uwaoma who also confirmed the outbreak, said two people died in their homes while one died in the community health center and over 16 persons are currently hospitalized and receiving treatment in the health center and other hospitals in Umuahia.
He confirmed that some persons have recovered and have been discharged from the health center, disclosing that the suspected cholera outbreak is as a result of suspected contamination of the Ikwu River which is the only source of water in the community.
He also confirmed that officials of the state Ministry of Health, WHO, and other interventionist agencies have visited the community and have donated drugs to the community health center to complement the ones already procured by him to help treat victims and expressed delight that the situation is under control.
“We have directed that the affected persons be treated at no cost and residents should immediately report suspected cases to the health facility.
“We have also intensified sensitization of the people on ways of preventing further spread which includes keeping the environment clean, drinking of clean water, and safe preservation of food items.
A native of the village Chief Uche Aguoru, said that the people drink water from the Ikwu River due to the non-availability of pipe-borne water, stating that in the past, individuals and governments, both at the state and federal levels have tried to drill boreholes in the community but have not been successful due to the topography of the area, and pleaded that the government should help revive the greater Okpara water scheme which in the 70s and 80s provided safe and clean potable water for the Ohuhu people.
He called on Government and well-meaning organizations to come to the rescue of the community by arresting the situation and checkmating further spread of the deadly epidemic.
Meanwhile, concerned Abians have been coming to the assistance of the community, including provision of portable drinking water and drugs as well as cash.
They include the Action Peoples Party, APP House of Assembly candidate for Umuahia North State Constituency, Chis Akachi Nwabia, represented by his campaign Coordinator, Team Nwabia, Ugochukwu Gabriel, and the Young Progressives Party, YPP House of Assembly candidate for Umuahia North State Constituency, Obed Nnaji Asiegbu.
According to Gabriel, Nwabia has repaired all water tanks at the health center and filled filled them with clean water, while Nnaji Asiegbu has paid for drugs for the health center.
