Board Denies Cholera Outbreak Reports

The Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board has dismissed reports that there was an outbreak of cholera in Akuku Toru Local Government of Rivers State.

The Executive Secretary, Dr Claribel Abam who dismissed the media reports in statement on last Monday said the reports was false and misleading adding that there has not been any case of cholera in Akuku Toru Local Government Area or any other areas in the state.

The statement signed by the press officer disclosed that epidemic preparedness and responds committees and Rapid Response Teams were established in all the 23 Local Government Areas in the state to respond to any epidemic or other public health events, warned that such sensitive issues were capable of creating panic among the populace.

Dr Abam boasted that the Primary Health Management Board was prepared to tackle any out break of disease or epidemic in any part of the state as several steps have been taken to curb such cases.

She advised those peddling such rumours to desist from raising such false alarm and advised that journalists should always confirm from her office before going to the press.

Also dismissing the rumour, the Director Disease Control Services of the PHCMB, Dr Bandele Agborubere said the was investigated and there was no iota truth, explaining that cases are reported to the local government area disease surveillance and notification officer and the epidemic preparedness and response committee unit of the local government which comprises of the public and private health sectors in each local government areas in the state.

The Medical Officer of Akuku Toru Local Government Area, Dr Afred Esadah said he was shock about the misleading reports.

He noted that there has never been cholera outbreak in the area in the recent past.