Cholera, Gastro-enteritis outbreak hit Anambra
Cholera epidemic has hit Umueze Anam in Anambra West local government area of Anambra state with 10 persons allegedly dead.
They died in circumstances known to be symptoms of cholera, excessive stooling and vomiting.
Governor Willie Obiano has dispatched a team of officials led by the Commissioner for Health to ascertain the level of the epidemic.
The local government has the worst health indices in the state.
But the State Commissioner for Heath Dr. Joe Akabuike says there is no outbreak of cholera in any part of the state but rather revealed that preliminary investigation into the pockets of deaths witnessed in some communities in the area was gastro-enteritis.
He said gastro-enteritis is caused as a result of the flood that ravaged the area recently. He urged them to take their personal hygiene seriously.
Dr Akabuike led top officials of the Ministry to Umueze Anam, Anambra West Council Area, over the recent rumour making round that there is an outbreak of cholera in the Local Government Area.
Speaking during the visit, Dr Akabuike said that the Ministry decided to have a genuine on the spot assessment of the area to ascertain what happened in order to take urgent and holistic measures to tackle it.
A public Health Consultant who doubles as the Executive Secretary, Anambra State Health Insurance Scheme, Dr Simeon Onyemaechi opined that particles that followed flood breeds germs, as well as indiscriminate stooling which he said are major causes of the disease, and advised health workers in the area to double their efforts in the management of the disease.
The Special Assistant to the Governor on Community Liason, Mr Chukwuemeka Elojor commended the state government for their quick intervention and assured that they will keep sensitising their people on the need to go to hospital once they have any health challenge.
In a vote of thanks, the Transition Committee chairman of Anambra West Local Government Area, Sir Sylvester-Okafor praised the ministry of Health and Governor Willie Obiano for their responsiveness in handling the situation and assured that the local government will always support them in their capacity.
The Commissioner and his team came with various drugs which they donated to the local government in order to stop the disease.
