Cholera Outbreak:  C/River Primary HealthCare DG Storms Obubra LGA With Medical Response And Massive Sensitization Exercise

Following the recent Cholera outbreak in Ofatura, Ovonom and Ofodua communities in Obubra LGA, the just appointed Director General of the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency Deaconess Mrs Abasioffiong Offiong has hit the ground running as she storms the affected communities in Obubra LGA with a team of medical experts to ensure a thorough medical responses and sensitization exercise.

 

 

 

 

The team headed by the Honorable Commissioner for Health Dr. Janet Ekpenyong who was on ground herself to ascertain the number of affected persons and provide medical solutions toured the various affected communities with a strong sensitization exercise educating the people on the proper ways of practicing good hygiene and possible ways to prevent themselves from further contracting the waterborne disease.

 

READ ALSO: Cross River PDP draws battle-line with Ayade, ask traditional rulers to go spiritual to secure their votes from election riggers

 

In her message; “We’re here under the instructions of the State Governor Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade to provide medical attention to you, His Excellency sends his well wishes and has asked me to reassure you that everything that needs to be done will be speedily ensured to continue to keep you safe, alive and healthy.

 

 

Cholera is a waterborne disease as such we all need to practice good hygiene by keeping our surroundings clean, watching our hands regularly, covering our food as well as boiling and filtering all our drinking water. Let’s report all affected cases to the nearest health facilities as our health centres have been restocked with all the required medical commodities to address this issue and other health challenges. You have the support of the State Governor and the entire health sector.”

 

 

Speaking also, the Director General of the Agency Deaconess Mrs Abasioffiong Offiong sympathized with those who have been affected and assured the affected communities not to panic as the situation is not beyond control. “We have the blessings and support of the State Governor Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade to salvage this menace and because of how deadly Cholera is, we didn’t wait for anyone to come brief us on the current situation but instead we decided to be in the field and get first hand information on what the situation is like. Even before now the health sector was already prepared for such cases because it’s only natural that after a heavy flooding situation they’ll always come an aftermath effect which is the Cholera outbreak we’re facing now.

 

READ ALSO: Cross River Governor, Ben Ayade Swears in Alhaji Musa As Commissioner

 

But just as the health commissioner has said earlier, we’ll work so hard to keep everyone safe and alive and our implementing partners are all in the field especially WHO to give us a head way. Cholera is a bacterial disease usually spread through contaminated water. It can cause severe diarrhea and dehydration and if left untreated, can be fatal within hours, even in previously healthy people so that’s why we all must seek medical attention in any nearby health facility and desist from self medications please.”

 

 

The member representing Obubra and Etung Federal Constituency Rt. Hon. Mike Etaba was also in the field to sympathize and encourage his people to seek medical attention in the approved health facilities rather than indulging in self medications. “I sympathize with the families that have been badly affected by this outbreak as I want to assure us all that we’ll all come out strong from this. The Governor through the Health Commissioner and the Director General of the primary health care has given us every necessary support we need, partners are also here to support and as your federal representative I’ll see to it that we get good and portable drinking water amongst other basic amenities.”

 

 

Highlight of the event featured the free donation of medical commodities, cash donations, free medical services and outreaches and house to house sensitization exercise amongst others. Drugs donated to various communities are not to be sold but administered free of charge.