Delta State Government has debunked the rumour of the reported outbreak of cholera epidemic in some parts of the state.

Speaking to journalists in Asaba, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Sunday Otobo, who led a team of ministry’s officials said that there was no confirmed outbreak of cholera in Delta State, but that there were incidents of stooling and vomiting recorded in Aladja, Udu Local Government Area of the state.

He explained that various samples have been taken to Lagos for testing and none has been confirmed to be suffering from cholera, adding that “there is no confirmed outbreak of cholera in Delta State as l speak to you, in some communities to be specific in Alajia there were incidents of vomiting and stooling that were reported and as a Ministry we have done a lot of work, samples have been collected and sent to Lagos for testing but no case of cholera have been confirmed in that community.”

The permanent secretary also stated that Governor Okowa has directed Health officers in the twenty five local government areas of the state to be proactive in detecting and tackling any outbreak of diseases in all communities.

Dr. Otobo disclosed that the state governor has instructed that the water plant in the community be resuscitated and put in use to provide potable drinking water for the community.

Explaining further, he opined that the state government has taken measures to ensure that the people of the area are sensitised on the need to keep their environment clean and have a healthy living.

“The Ministry of Environment is also going to mobilise to Aladja to make sure that environmental policies that will not endanger the health of the people are put in place, so that everybody in the community maintains a clean environment and also find a way of proper disposal of faeces,” he said.

The permanent secretary said that the Ministry of Health has a monitoring team on ground in the community to sensitise the people, monitor the situation on ground and report back to the Ministry and that the health centers in the community have been equipped with drugs to treat the patients.

“Health is a collective responsibility and the government cannot provide everything. Even if the government provides you with clean water, it is your duty to store water in clean containers and importantly you have to keep your environment clean,” he added.

•Photo shows, from left; Mr. Efezioumor Victor, Press Secretary on Print Media; Chief State Epidemiologist, Dr. Charles Ofili; State Disease Surveillance officer, Nurse Igumbor Gloria; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Sunday Otobo; and Director, Public Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Philomena Okewo, during yesterday’s media interaction in Asaba.

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