Again, Cholera Outbreak Kills 2 In Ebonyi

Less than one month after cholera outbreak killed 17 persons in Ikwo local government area of Ebonyi State, another two persons have been confirmed dead in another outbreak in Ofenekpa Inyimagu also in the same LGA of the State.

Apart from Ikwo Local Government Area of the State, other communities ravaged by the outbreak included Ezillo in Ishielu local government area and Afikpo in Afikpo North local government area of the State.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the Member representing Ikwo/Ezza South federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Chinedu Ogah, had intervened through the procurement of drugs and settling the hospital bills of victims following last month’s outbreak, which brought the spread under control.

But on Saturday, two persons died in the outbreak of the virus in the Ofenekpa community.

Ogah, who is the deputy chairman of the House Committee on Poverty Alleviation, has mobilised a medical team, led by Dr Chukwu Okwudiri of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, and Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team (AMURT AMURT), to intervene and contain the outbreak, which has killed not less than two indigenes of the community.

Comrade Ogah expressed regret over the resurgence of the outbreak in the local government area and called for the intervention of the State and Federal Governments.

“We are in dry season when people experience scarcity of water which most times result in cholera outbreaks. In that regard, we have done so much in sinking several boreholes both in Ikwo and Ezza South local government areas to ensure the people have access to good and portable water.

“We can’t do it alone, we need more of the support of the Federal Government, the State and foreign donor agencies to help our people. President Muhammadu Buhari has done so much in Ebonyi State even in the area of water and we expect that with the coming on board of the new administration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the issue of water scarcity will be a thing of the past,” he stated.

The lawmaker commended the State Ministry of Health for its usual prompt responses in attending to issues of cholera outbreaks and urged the Ministry to also make more contribution towards eradicating cholera in most parts of Ikwo.