Ogun cholera: Monarch, 106 others hospitalised There was palpable fear among the residents of Abeokuta on Friday as death toll in the outbreak of cholera in the Ogun State capital rose. Already, the state government has confirmed that three deaths had been recorded out of the 104 cases of “gastroenteritis” treated in Abeokuta South, Abeokuta North, Odeda and Obafemi-Owode local government areas. Areas mostly affected by the outbreak of the epidemic include Ijaiye, Adedotun, Ake, Onikolobo, Ita-Eko, among several other communities in the state capital. The outbreak had on Wednesday claimed about five lives at the state hospital. Our correspondent, however, gathered on Friday that the epidemic claimed a 10-year-old female child in Isale Ake, Abeokuta. The child was said to have given up the ghost at the General Hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta. Although the management of the state hospital declined to confirm the outbreak of the epidemic, Saturday PUNCH learnt that a ward had already been created for those admitted for “gastroenteritis.” At the FMC, the outbreak has been confirmed, forcing the management of the federal tertiary hospital to issue a circular. At the centre in Idi-Aba, Saturday PUNCH gathered that a traditional ruler (name withheld) was admitted last Saturday and treated for related infection while a journalist (name withheld) was discharged on Thursday after five days on admission at the FMC for “gastroenteritis.” Also, an official of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (name withheld) was admitted in a private hospital in the Ibara Housing Estate for the treatment of the disease. While confirming the outbreak of the epidemic on Wednesday, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka, had identified Abeokuta North and Abeokuta South local government areas as the sources of the disease. Investigations by our correspondent also revealed that several residents are currently undergoing treatment for cholera and other related gastro-intestinal diseases in both public and private hospitals in the state capital. Our correspondent observed that many victims of the epidemic were being attended to by nurses at the Ijaiye General Hospital. Some of the nurses expressed regret that the outbreak of the disease was already threatening to overstretch facilities in the hospital. Also, no fewer than two persons were on Wednesday night admitted for the treatment of the disease at a popular private clinic located in the Onikolobo area of the state capital. Similarly, two other persons were also treated for the water-borne disease at another private clinic located in the Ijemo area of the state capital. A medical doctor in the hospital, who pleaded anonymity, said, “We are doing our best to save their lives after they were brought here late on Wednesday.” The doctor advised Abeokuta residents to seek urgent treatment at the slightest suspicion of any outbreak of the disease at any nearest hospital. She cautioned the residents against unhygienic conditions. Another medical expert also cautioned Muslims currently observing the Ramadan fast to desist from eating unhygienic food and guide against eating fruits and oranges not thoroughly washed. Soyinka told journalists on Friday that the epidemic was not cholera outbreak, adding that three deaths had been recorded out of 104 cases of ‘’gastroenteritis’’ listed in Abeokuta South, Abeokuta North, Odeda and Obafemi-Owode. punchng/news/ogun-cholera-monarch-106-others-hospitalised/
Posted on: Sat, 27 Jul 2013 13:30:13 +0000
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