Cholera Claims Another Life In Delta Riverine Community, Death Toll Reaches 6 In One Week
The deceased, identified only as Benson and in his 40s, succumbed in the early hours of Tuesday at Ikpide-Irri after experiencing severe vomiting.
A resident of Ikpide-Irri, a riverine community in the Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, has reportedly died following a cholera outbreak in the area.
The deceased, identified only as Benson and in his 40s, succumbed in the early hours of Tuesday at Ikpide-Irri after experiencing severe vomiting.
A member of his family who confirmed the death to SaharaReporters said, “We have lost a worthy son in our family. Benson was a young promising man full of life. He was very healthy; there was never any sign of sickness. All of a sudden, he started experiencing vomiting.
“You know we don’t have hospital and the health centre we have here in Ikpide is not functional. Our sources of drinking water are contaminated. Benson is toe good and young to die. Oh no! God, why my family?”
SaharaReporters learned that the deceased was buried shortly after his passing. At least five individuals reportedly died last week in the riverine community following the cholera outbreak.
The victims, which included four women and one man, experienced severe vomiting and diarrhea before their deaths. Sadly, they could not access medical care as the only health center in the riverine community has been nonfunctional for several years.
Sources revealed that more than five individuals who showed similar symptoms recently had to endure a two-hour drive to medical facilities in Oleh, the council’s headquarters, for treatment.
The community river serves as the sole source of drinking water for residents as the two boreholes in the area have been out of service for years. Meanwhile, successive governments have shown little concern for the residents’ health and other essential social amenities.
Government officials had conducted a test on the river water and found it to be contaminated. Residents were warned to stop drinking from the river, with assurances that alternative water sources would be provided.
News of the death of the five residents of the community has prompted the council chairman Friday Ovoke Warri to deploy medical personnel and supplies to the community to prevent the disease from spreading further.
