Cholera kills 30 in Makurdi

No fewer than 30 persons have died while several others are still on the danger list  in different hospitals across Makurdi, the Benue State capital following outbreak of cholera the state capital.
Daily Sun gathered from sources at the various hospitals visited within the city that those affected were person of the Hausa tribe who form the bulk of residents in the Wadata area of the metropolis.
Speaking with newsmen in his office yesterday, Dr. Adole Victor Edoh of Jeluwa hospital in the Wadata area, disclosed that two persons had died of the  epidemic while about 80 percent of patients admitted in the hospital within the last one week were diagnosed to have cholera.
“Yes, almost about 80percent of cases admitted are in this hospital in the last one week were diagnosed to have cholera. So far we have recorded two casualties and the outbreak intensified from last week. Epidemiologists came in and discovered that it was a case of cholera. The patients are mostly from Wadata area. At a point there were no bed spaces to accommodate patients.”
Also at the Hope Hospital located in the Wadata area, Matron of the Hospital who was identified as Agatha Nyiataher said two of the over 20 cases of cholera admitted in the hospital lost their lives to the epidemic while others were responding to treatment.
Efforts to get the Chief Medical Director of the Benue State Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Prof. Orkuga Malu and the Medical Director of Madonna Hospital, Dr. Ameh Idoko to speak on the development failed as they were said not to be on seat at the time of the visit.
But insiders at both hospitals disclosed that several patients who were rushed to the hospitals were diagnosed of the epidemic and were receiving treatment while some deaths were also recorded.
However, when contacted, State Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Dr. Orduen Abunku confirmed that six deaths had so far been reported in the seven hospitals he visited adding that only one death was recorded yesterday.
He disclosed further that the federal and state government as well as UNICEF were making contributions to provide drugs for the affected people even as public health awareness had been intensified in Wadata area of the metropolis.
Abunku advised people living within Wadata to take issues of sanitation seriously and be careful about their sources of water.