Cholera outbreak: Again, Bayelsa refutes death claims, says

From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa

The Bayelsa State government has again refuted claims of mortalities arising from suspected cases of Cholera.

The Bayelsa State Non-Non-Governmental Forum (BANGOF) recently claimed that 15 deaths were recorded in Nembe Local Government Area.

However, Commissioner for Health, Prof. Seiyefa Brisibe dismissed the reports of deaths, insisting that from data collated from its health facilities, no death was recorded in any of the facilities.

Prof. Brisibe, who noted that the state Ministry of Health and, by extension, the Senator Douye Diri-led administration is accountable for the health of those residing in Bayelsa, stressed that the Ministry of Health had strengthened its governance and leadership process such that its response time to crises, public health emergencies, and medical emergencies is swift and effective.

‘’We have been very proactive in getting commodities and technology to where needed so that we do not record any mortality. I can tell you that as a State our health facilities have intervened and treated between 600 to 800 patients that presented suspected cases of symptoms of cholera and diarrhea diseases. We have not recorded to date, any mortality in any of our facilities be primary, secondary, or tertiary healthcare. As of today, no person has died in any of our facilities that has been confirmed by either a doctor or health professional that it is out of diarrhea or vomiting or a suspected case of cholera.’’

Prof. Brisibe explained that before the Yuletide, the ministry had rolled out jingles and health advocacy to ensure people eat and live right to prevent health emergencies.

According to him, since it was impossible to prevent the disease, the Ministry of Health fundamentals is now anchored to prevent transmission.

To this end, he stated that the ministry is working with community leaders, youth Presidents, and the Red Cross to sensitise residents of the state on the need to seek prompt medical attention in its health facilities over cases of vomiting and watery stool.

Prof. Brisibe expressed confidence that the ministry’s framework in handling the health emergencies has demonstrated resilience.

“As we speak the satellites are green. We link primary healthcare facilities to secondary healthcare facilities. This means anywhere we see symptoms or alerts we get the secondary healthcare facilities involved and link all the healthcare facilities so that we do not keep serious cases in primary healthcare facilities that would lead to mortalities. This framework has worked, and we will continue and strengthen it. After now we are going to do very serious governance issues surrounding the referral and linkage of our primary healthcare facilities communities to secondary care facilities and tertiary care facilities. That is the type of strong and resilient health facilities we are building.’’