Following the cholera out break in Soku Communities in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, the Niger Delta Development Commission,NDDC through the State Office of the Commission, said it has deployed medial personnel and response materials to the area.
The Guardian gathered that the suspected cholera outbreak which has been going on between last December and now had claimed nine lives, while some persons have been hospitalized with high fatalities.
It was learnt that the leaders of Soku in a letter of complaint addressed to the Rivers State of NDDC raised alarm of a Cholera outbreak occasioned by contaminated drinking water.
They had alerted that if not mitigated urgently, there will be harvest of deaths
Soku is a Riverine Community in Kalabari Kingdom of Rivers State, The Guardian learnt that the people lacked portable water and good toilet/ Sanitation systems hence; iseases like Cholera often reoccur in the areas.
Jacobs Happiness, the Special Assistant on Media to the Rivers State Representative at NDDC Governing Board., Mr. Tony Okocha, said he (Okocha) took a proactive action to urgently intervene from his personal fund stating though, the Commission had made approval for the intervention but was yet to release it.
According to Happiness, due to the fast transmission of cholera, the Rivers State NDDC Representative decided not to leave anything to chances but to immediately intervene when the matter was reported to him to save lives and avoid further deaths.
While describing the outbreak as unfortunate , the spokesman disclosed that the medical professionals deployed to Soku include; Medical doctors, Nurses, and pharmacists with the aim of ensuring aggressive intervention to save the lives of the citizens of Soku Community.
Speaking further, Happiness said, , “A suspected cholera Outbreak has been going on in Soku Community and some lives have been lost before the attention of the Rivers State NDDC Representative, Okocha was drawn to the situation and he tendered the matter at the board and it was approved but even without NDDC mobilising him, he used his own fund to immediately intervene because he was so concerned about saving the lives of the people ”
“So, due to the fast transmission of cholera, the Rivers State NDDC Representative decided not to leave anything to chances to avoid further deaths’
He said, the combined medical team who arrived Soku on Sunday, February 18, will be in the communities in the next four to five days to intervene and prevent further spread of the disease.
“We are very optimistic that the situation will be tackled. The quality of the medical personnel deployed are well experienced and are eager to work” he stated
Okocha had assured that he would make Human Capital Development a top priority under his watch at NDDC.
