A youth group in Tana North Sub-County has started an awareness campaign on Cholera outbreak in the area as the situation seems to get out of hand with the death toll at 14 since the outbreak.
According to the Cholera Outbreak Weekly Situation Report released on Tuesday by the Tana River Department of Health, three more people have lost their lives since last week’s report.
The total number of cholera cases stands at 625 out of which 588 and 13 patients were treated and discharged at the Cholera Treatment Units (CTU) in Madogo and Bura respectively.
“The average age of the cases is 19.1 years and 26.1 for Madogo and Madogo CTU respectively. Minimum age of 0.2 years and a maximum age of 100 years for Madogo CTU and a minimum age of 1.5 years and a maximum of 70 years at Bura CTU,’’ read parts of the report.
According to the report more females were affected than males by the disease. At the Madogo CTU, 52.8 of patients at the Madogo CTU were female, while the males were at 47.2 per cent. Bura CTU had the same pattern with 53.9 per cent female and 46.1 male.
Speaking during a cholera sensitization forum organized by Tana Bora Community Based Organization in Bura town Dr. Mohamed Haret said eatery joints risk closure if health protocols are not followed.
“If the number of cholera cases continues to increase in the wards, I tell you your businesses will be closed if you fail to implement what we have told you. Protect your customers by designating a hand wash area to wash hands before eating and the food must be well cooked,” said Dr. Mohamed Haret.
Bura Police OCS Samuel Kitheka said if residents of Bura fail to follow hygiene instructions as outlined by the Department of Health, “we will also be affected, so we should not take this as a joke, it is a serious disease, we want you to stay healthy and wash the fruit before eating.”
Tana Bora CBO Secretary General Daud Khalif urged the department of water to solve the perennial water problem in Bura as residents are currently using a Bura Irrigation Scheme canal water for domestic use.
“As an organization, we are committed to educating the community on the cholera outbreak. We are appealing to our water department to solve water scarcity in Bura town and its environs,” said Daud Khalif.
By Sadik Hassan
