Nine persons have died from cholera outbreak in Akpoha community, Afikpo North local government area of Ebonyi State while many others have been hospitalized and are receiving treatment in various hospitals in the state.

Official reports put the number of those hospitalized at 30 but residents said that the number could be higher.

The state government has since set up Rapid Response Team to the community to help bring the situation under control.

Chairperson of the local government, Uchenna Ibiam, led the team which comprised staff of the state ministry of Health and that of the National Center For Disease Control (NCDC) to the community.

Addressing the village heads and people of Akpoha community, the council boss expressed concern over the unexpected deaths some of whom were children.

He called on the people of the area not to panic as the situation is under control.

He commended the state government for responding promptly, especially in sending Rapid Response Team to assist Health Workers at Akpoha in containing the situation.

He advised the residents to adhere strictly to medical advice from health professional to stem the wide spread of the outbreak.

Ibiam, who visited the victims at the various Health facilities at Akpoha, promised to drill four solar boreholes within two weeks to enable them have access to clean water.

Ibiam said that his visit was to serve as a psychological therapy to the people of the area and to assure them of the administration’s readiness for humanitarian interventions to save their children from mortality from cholera outbreak and other diseases.

The Chairperson gave out some relief materials including foams , disinfectants and cash to the people.

Source: PREMIUM TIMES