Residents of the coastal village of Emeroke, in the Eastern Obolo local government area of Akwa Ibom State, have reported that a 72-year-old woman has passed away as a result of the cholera epidemic that was recorded earlier this week.
The development has the death toll to rise to 12 on Saturday, according to source.
Physicians at the nearby Immanuel General Hospital in the State’s Eket local government area, where the victims were treated, initially estimated that five people had died, with children and teenagers being the most severely affected by the unexpected cholera outbreak prior to government action.
Notable symptoms, such as severe vomiting, diarrhea, and general body weakness, led to the disease’s diagnosis.
The elderly woman, the most recent victim, “died for her refusal to be taken to the hospital for treatment because of her religious belief and doctrine which, according to her, was heavily tilted to spiritual healing and abhorrent to orthodox medical administration,” according to a concerned resident who spoke on condition of anonymity.
“The old woman refused to be taken to hospital because as a member of Samuel Samuel Spiritual Church, they don’t believe in orthodox medical administration as a cure for any form of ailment, but have strong faith and belief in spiritual healing.
“Her case was very critical because she was stooling and vomiting. We begged her to be taken to hospital but she refused. Unfortunately, she died on Tuesday because she was weak, pale and dehydrated.
“The community has been deserted. Some patients who were admitted in hospital are recuperating while five of them had earlier died,” he recalled.
Remember how the state government sent emergency medical personnel from a secondary hospital in the state to determine the precise number of cases and deaths at the time of the disease outbreak?
The state epidemiologist has been dispatched to the impacted neighborhood for education campaigns on ways to lessen the disease, according to Dr. Patrick Essiet, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, who verified the occurrence.
“The ministry of Health hereby advises members of the community and the environs that as an immediate intervention, proper hand washing should be done especially after defecation, boiling of drinking water before consumption while all persons with symptoms of diarrhoea or vomiting should seek immediate treatment at the nearest health facility
“Furthermore, the Ministry reminds community leaders to enforce the existing ban on open defecation by the Government.
“While the State Government is working on a long-term solution, the ministry is currently mobilising supplies to the community as an immediate and short-term measure,” he emphasized.
As a result, he instructed everyone to notify the Ministry of Health’s Public Health director of any suspected cholera cases.