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No fewer than five persons have reportedly died following the outbreak of cholera at Ikpide-irri riverine community in the Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State.
SaharaReporters learned that the victims—four women and one man—experienced severe vomiting and diarrhea before their deaths. Unfortunately, they could not access medical care, as the only health centre in the riverine community has been nonfunctional for several years.
Sources revealed that over five individuals showing similar symptoms had to endure a two-hour drive to medical facilities in Oleh, the council’s headquarters, for treatment.
The river serves as the community’s sole source of drinking water, as the two boreholes in the area have been out of service for years. Meanwhile, successive governments have shown little concern for the residents’ health and other essential social amenities.
Our correspondent learned that government officials conducted a test on the river water and found it to be contaminated. Residents were warned to stop drinking from the river, with assurances that alternative water sources would be provided.
SaharaReporters gathered that news of the cholera outbreak in the community reached the council authority late, as local leaders initially believed it was a minor illness they could manage independently.
However, upon receiving a call, council chairman Friday Ovoke Warri promptly deployed medical personnel and supplies to the community to prevent the disease from spreading further.
The council chairman also led a delegation of the state epidemiologist, Ministry of Health staff and World Health Organisation (WHO) officials to Ikpide-irri community to assess the situation, raise awareness on cholera prevention and deliver medical supplies to the primary health centre that has been moribund for years.
Warri advised residents to adhere strictly to cholera prevention guidelines.
“Only a healthy, educated, and secure population can drive sustainable development,” he said.
Chairman of Ikpide-Irri community, Mike Orufuo thanked the council chairman, Warri and other officials for their prompt intervention, calling it “effective leadership and responsive governance”.
He appealed for the resuscitation of the health centre and more medical assistance, including facilities, solar-powered water boreholes in the community and deployment of more medical staff.
Orufuo used the medium to call on the state governor, Sheriff Oborevwori and President Bola Tinubu to come to the aid of the community in the areas of social amenities.
He said it is “not only when there are elections that they will come to Ikpide-irri for campaigns and promises and after elections you don’t see anybody again, you don’t see their promises on the ground to motivate you in next elections”.
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