The Rivers State Ministry of Health has denied a reported case of cholera outbreak in Soku community, Akuku Toru Local Government Area of the state.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Chidinma Oreh in a statement she personally signed said public health teams dispatched to the community has confirmed no case of such death.
She stated this in response to media reports of outbreak of the disease in the community with reported casualties.
The statement reads in part: “Rivers State Ministry of Health has received numerous enquiries from the press regarding an alleged outbreak of cholera in Soku community in Akuku Toru LGA.
“Cholera, which is a water-borne infectious disease, is a notifiable disease warranting escalating reports from disease surveillance and notification officers at the community level.
“Public health teams dispatched to investigate these alleged cases, and deaths have so far received no confirmation of such. The ongoing medical outreach in Soku community is in no way related to any outbreak of cholera.
“Outreaches have always been a way of getting accessible healthcare to under-served and vulnerable populations. However, all such outreach activities must be conducted with approval from and in collaboration with the State Ministry of Health, and as such, no entity should be conducting outreaches outside the coordination of the Ministry.
“All infectious diseases of this nature are to be reported, managed, and escalated by the Rivers State Ministry of Health.
“This statement should, therefore, serve as a strong warning to anyone conducting or planning health activities without due recourse to the Rivers State Ministry of Health. Any such activities found to be carried out without the knowledge and clearance of the State Ministry of Health will be fully investigated and dealt with in order to ensure the protection of the lives of Rivers people.
“The general public and members of the press are advised to disregard the rumours making the rounds on an ongoing outbreak of cholera and the death of some citizens of Soku Community in Akuku-Toru LGA of Rivers State as it is presently unfounded, misguided, and capable of causing panic amongst citizens and residents.
The general public is thus urged to remain calm and rest assured that the Rivers State Ministry of Health will continue to be a veritable source of public health information in the state”.
