Ebonyi Cholera outbreak leaves nursing mother, 9 others dead

By Amarachi Ehia, Abakaliki 

Ten persons have reportedly died of Cholera in Ndibokote village, Ezza Inyimagu in Izzi Local Government Area, Ebonyi State.

According to a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the state Ministry of Health, Lucy Anyim, among the dead was a mother that died leaving behind her 9 months old baby. 

The Cholera outbreak occurred on Monday 23rd September 2024. 

Anyim quoted the State Commissioner of Health Dr. Moses Ekuma to have confirmed the deaths during a rapid response.

She said, “Speaking during the rapid response at Iziogo health center yesterday 25th September, 2024, the Hon. Commissioner for Health, Dr. Moses Ekuma confirmed the cholera outbreak and disclosed that about 9 to 10 deaths have been recorded while about 20 affected persons were responding to treatment.

“He enumerated the effort they have made to bring the condition under control and appreciated the Ebonyi State Governor, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for approving fund for the procurement of medical commodities for the outbreak.”

Dr. Ekuma noted that three treatment centers including Iziogo health center, Sudan Mission, Onuenyim and Ndibokote village have been established in the area, advising indigenes to take precautionary measures in order to prevent the spread of the disease. 

The Director, Public Health, Dr Hyacinth Ebenyi said that “though the community believed that  the outbreak was as a result of suspected case from the woman who was buried, open defecation and poor hygiene contributed to the outbreak of the disease as they got their drinking water from streams.”