Eleven students of the Federal
Government Girls College (FGGC), Imiringi in Ogbia Local Government Area
of Bayelsa State are now lying critically ill at the Federal Medical
Centre, Yenagoa, following an outbreak of cholera at the school. The situation at the school was said to be so critical that the authorities closed the school Friday morning.
The outbreak was said to have triggered
pandemonium as parents rushed to the school to collect their wards and
some people living in the area temporarily moved out. Imiringi is a
neighbouring community of presidential homestead, Otuoke.
Cholera has been on the rise in Bayelsa
State in recent months following an outbreak early this year in Southern
Ijaw and Sagbama local government areas.
The actual casualty figure is yet to be
ascertained even as the state Ministry of Health came under attack for
alleged refusal to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Health to
tackle the menace.
The United Nations Children’s Education
Fund (UNICEF) had been carrying out some medical outreach programmes in
Southern Ijaw and Sagbama local government areas to tackle the cholera
outbreak.
Last month, UNIEF distributed free drugs
and other materials to communities affected by the cholera outbreak as
part of efforts to reduce mother and child mortality in the state.
When contacted on the condition of the
11 students, a source at the state Ministry of Health said the ministry
had sent medical personnel to FMC, Yenagoa to ascertain the situation.
The reaction read: “Ministry of Health
has sent medical personnel to FMC to ascertain suspected cases of
gastro-enteritis” but did not say what steps the ministry is taking to
forestall further spread of the disease.
However, there is fear as most of the
water for domestic use is from untreated sources especially in the rural
areas where residents get water from rivers and streams led to the
outbreak.
Credit: thescoopng
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