Cholera kills 7 in Benue

At least, seven people have lost their lives to Cholera in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.

State Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Dr. Joseph Ngbea, who made the disclosure on Tuesday in Makurdi, said the government had already provided medical consumables to the General Hospital, Obagaji in Agatu to contain the situation.

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He listed items made available to the hospital to include, Ringer Lactate, IV cannula, Adhessive plaster, ORS, Water guard, 5 ml syringes, 2ml syringes, Zinc tablet, Caps Doxycycline, Tabs cypro and Cotton wool.

Ngbea, who was accompanied by his Permanent Secretary, Andrew Amee and the Director of Public Health, Dr. Terna Kur, said the prompt response followed release of funds by Governor Samuel Ortom, to ensure effective treatment of those still hospitalised.

The commissioner also promised urgent provision of test kits to the hospital to enhanced testing as he stressed the need for local government councils to support medical teams to respond effectively for the good of the rural dwellers.

He further commiserated with Agatu people over the loss of the seven persons and urged the management of the hospital to formally present their demands for construction of perimeter fence renovation of the hospital and repair of the hospital ambulance for necessary attention.

Also speaking, the Director of Public Health, Dr. Terna Kur, advised the local government authority to coordinate health care in times of outbreak for proper handling by providing logistics support to Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer to enable the desk report health issues to ministry for the benefit of the populace.

Meanwhile, the Acting Medical Officer of the hospital, Dr. Adebo Oche, explained that a total of 51 cases of Cholera were recorded from Obagaji, Alokpa, Edeje and Abube with seven deaths alongside a child on admission.