Cholera kills 7 children in Cross River

The Director General, Cross River State Primary Healthcare Care Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong, has confirmed the death of seven children from cholera in the state.

Ekpenyong said, “Over 600 suspected cases were detected and we had a Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) conducted on them. We also did a microscopic and culture test to have a true confirmation of the cases.

“We confirmed that most of the cases were not cholera related, though we had three active cases of the disease in Ogoja Local Government Area (LGA).

“Whenever we go for medical outreach and detect suspected cases of cholera with symptoms such as diarrhoea, we take samples immediately.

“Thereafter, the rapid diagnostic test is carried out and treatment initiated immediately.

“Over the past two months, we have actually had seven deaths occurring as a result of cholera.” 

Ekpenyong said treatment was initiated after samples were collected for microscopic test but sadly however, some of the children died before the results were out.

She noted that children are most vulnerable to diarrhoea, because they play mostly with dirt and still use their hands to eat without washing them.

Ekpenyong said her goal was working with the National Orientation Agency and other partners to sensitise mothers on the importance of maintaining hygienic habits and drinking clean water.

She noted that most of the cases were as a result of drinking unclean water that had been contaminated by faeces, especially in rural areas without toilets.

She said that since most rural dwellers depended on water from the streams, it was important for people from such communities to boil such water before drinking.

Temitope/NAN