By Samuel Oyadongha & Chioma Onuegbu

No fewer than twenty  persons, including women and children, have reportedly lost their lives, following outbreak of cholera in the riverine communities of Sagbama and Southern Ijaw local government areas of Bayelsa State.

This came as Akwa Ibom State government urged the citizens and residents to be vigilant over the current cholera outbreak by observing improved personal hygiene and environmental sanitation.

Among the dead, it was learned, was a 60-year-old woman who gave up the ghost at a Sagbama community after excessive stooling and vomiting.

Deaths were also recoded at Osiama and Ekede, also in Sagbama local government area.

Also affected were Ikanbiri, Enewari, Opuama and Epirigbene in Southern Ijaw local government area of the state.

Some community health workers who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the spread of the epidemic had assumed a worrisome dimension.

The disease, according to the health workers, is known as vibrio chlolerae bacterium and causes victims to vomit and stool frequently which could be fatal.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ayibatonye Owei, it was learned, has visited some of the affected communities in the state and approved the distribution of drugs.

But in a text message on the development, the commissioner described the development as stale.

“The outbreak was reported two weeks ago and our ministry immediately swung into action to effectively curtail it. And it is not true that the record of death is 20. An official statement from the Ministry will soon be made available,” he said.

It was, however, gathered that the development is causing fear in the riverine enclave of the state where sanitary condition is poor in most of the communities.

Meanwhile, Akwa Ibom State government has urged the citizens and residents to be vigilant over the current cholera outbreak by observing improved personal hygiene and environmental sanitation.

The Commissioner for Health Dr Ememabasi Bassey, who gave the charge during a chat with newsmen yesterday in Uyo, said the disease, which reportedly killed over 20 people in the neighboring Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, called for caution.

Bassey warned that Cholera was an infection disease that could kill so many people within a very short period, if not diagnosed and properly treated.

He said: “Cholera is an acute disease that can kill thousands of people within hours if not treated. This disease occurs due to a break down in environmental sanitation and personal hygiene.

“Therefore we are appealing to Akwa Ibom people and residents to make sure that they keep their surrounding environment clean at all times.

“Also, we must ensure that our food is properly cooked before we eat it. We must maintain a clean household, and you wash your fruits before eating them. Proper disposal of wastes, garbage far from our immediate environment or residential areas also help to check the disease.

“Most importantly we advise that members of the public must ensure that they take any suspected case to government hospitals and health centres immediately for proper medical attention or contact the State Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer.”

He said   the present administration was committed and always willing to provide good, accessible medical and health care services that would enhance the health and living condition of the people.