Cholera: Red Cross Donates Drugs To Ebonyi Community

The Nigerian Red Cross
Society has donated preventive-drugs to Oriuzor Community in Ezza-North local government of Ebonyi to check cholera outbreak in the area.
Our correspondent learnt that the outbreak, which was first reported in the state in February, has claimed 25 lives in seven local government areas of the state.
The state Secretary, Red Cross Society, Chief Fred Egede,presented the drugs to the affected community.
Egede said the, ‘Aqua tablet’ drug was for purification of water against cholera and other water-borne diseases in the area.
“The gesture is aimed at complimenting the efforts of the state government in controlling and preventing the deadly disease in the area and all affected parts of the state.
“We urge the people to always maintain personal hygiene and keep their surroundings clean to check further spread of the disease.
“We also urge the people to avail themselves of opportunities provided by the health facilities in the area to treat the disease and stop resorting to self medication in its treatment,” he said.
He said that the state branch of the society has organised a training workshop on epidemic control and hygienic promotion for community-based volunteers.
“The training is to strengthen the capacity of the volunteers to respond effectively to incidences of cholera and other dreaded diseases through prevention and control activities in targeted areas.
“The workshop is also aimed at further equipping community based volunteers of the society with requisite knowledge and skills of hygienic promotion with supportive assistance to the affected communities,” he said.
Egede advised government to provide basic amenities, especially portable water, to the people to check their dependence on unhygienic sources of water to meet their water needs.
The traditional ruler of the community, Mr Nwite Ngele, appreciated the society for providing the drugs and appealed to the state government to intensify efforts at preventing further loss of lives to the disease.
“We will continue to educate our people on the need to maintain good sanitary conditions and wash every food item at their disposal before consumption,” he said.
An indigene of the area, Mrs Idiali Nweke, also called on government and non-governmental agencies to donate more drugs and provide other forms of assistance to the area to check the spread of the disease.