The Cross River State Director General Primary Healthcare Development Agency Dr. Janet Ekpenyong has said that the Agency cannot really affirm whether the suspected cholera outbreak reported in some parts of the state is cholera, until they do a test.
The DG, also revealed that what the Agency really does first is to tackle the diarrhea that predisposed us with coming down with cholera.
Dr. Ekpenyong who made this known while on Monday Hit FM breakfast show said that the suspected cholera outbreak in some parts of Cross River State where over 20 people lost their lives and over 30 people are reportedly treated by the state government hospitals in Abi and Yakurr LGAs, is usually attributed to contaminated food and water with bacteria, viruses and parasite as well as environmental hygiene.
According to her, “any other Diarrhoea diseases usually attributed to contaminated food and water with bacteria, viruses and parasite as well as environmental hygiene.
“These are some of the issues that predisposed us with coming down with cholera because one thing about contaminated food or source of water, whatsoever you put in your mouth is not clean.”
She explained that “when you come down with cholera, you will feel weak, body pains and fever could set in. We are really afraid of dehydration as a result of Diarrhoea diseases.
In her voice, “we can’t really say is cholera until we do a test. What we really do first is to tackle the diarrhea. Of cause, with the oral dehydration’s solutions, you can revive patients, but when it becomes more severe, definitely, the patient must be infused or needs infusion.”
She said, It is very important that we must be conscious of our source of water and food including washing of hands regularly after using the toilet before we prepare the food that our family would eat. Hence the need to keep talking about personal and environmental hygiene.
“We encourage people to boil their water before drinking it. We will continue to sensitize and educate our people for them to also whenever they record such case should quickly give the patient oral dehydration’s solutions. Says Dr. Ekpenyong.
According to the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, the incident which occurred on Thursday, December 15th, 2022, was said to have been escalated after the consumption of contaminated water from the village drinking source.