Ebonyi State Commissioner for Health, Dr Moses Ekuma on Saturday said that there is no confirmed case of cholera in the state.
Dr. Ekuma who stated this in Abakaliki, the State capital, however said that the state has so far recorded 33 suspected cases who are already undergoing clinical tests to ascertain if they are actually cholera infections.
“So far, we have not recorded any case of confirmed cholera outbreak in the State but what we have are only 33 suspected cases. Those suspected cases are undergoing clinical tests to ascertain if they are actually cholera infections.
“In Ebonyi State, there are processes we have in place that we go through that will lead to confirmation. We are still on that process,” Dr. Ekuma said.
Meanwhile, a Health Specialist in the state, Dr. Wilfred Chukwu has advised the state government and the Ministry of Health to commence statewide sensitisation on the dangers and causes of cholera pandemic to forestall another outbreak in the state.
The call has become necessary in view of the outbreak of the disease in Lagos State and few states leading to the death of over 40 persons amid the fear of its further spreading to other states.
“The State Ministry of Health should commence statewide sensitisation on the causes and dangers of the outbreak to enable the people understand the signs and symptoms of the infection.
“We must not wait to record a case before we commence the sensitisation. The time to start is now that Ebonyi is yet to record any case,” Dr Chukwu said.
He advised residents of the state, especially rural dwellers to maintain personal and environmental hygiene to prevent the outbreak in the state.
“We have always advised that when someone is confirmed to have died as a result of cholera, it is expected that the person should be buried immediately without burial ceremonies, but the people will not obey the directive and it will end up affecting others.
“The people expose whatever they eat to flies and these flies will perch on them and transmit diseases to them”.
“Most of the people in the rural areas and even the urban don’t have toilet facilities as they defecate around their houses and waterways which make it easier for diseases to be transmitted to them.
“The Ministry of Environment and Health must clampdown on landlords who don’t have toilet facilities in their houses and ensure that such houses are sealed.
“Our people must ensure regular hand-washing with running water to avoid contracting diseases and make use of health facilities provided for them by the government whenever there is outbreak of any endemic in their localities.
“People should stop resorting to self-medication or delay in accessing health facilities,” the health expert further warned.