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Some 1863 cases of cholera have been reported in the Southwest Region of Cameroon with 33 deaths, following the increasing cholera cases in the region. The country's Public Health Minister, Andre Mama Fouda, health officials and administrative authorities visited the municipalities of Tiko, Buea and Limbe to assess the situation.

After meeting cholera patients, members of the Cholera Control Coordination Committee, C4, in the Region, told the Minister that 1863 cases of cholera had been reported since the epidemic broke out on November 17, 2010, in the Mile 16 neighbourhood in Buea, chief town of the Southwest Region.

They disclosed that 33 people had already died of the disease.

According to the Southwest Regional Secretary of C4, Dr. Mathilda Ako-Arrey, cholera remains a major public health problem in the Region.

She said they are working hard to reduce the number of cases and prevent the spread of the disease.

“As part of our strategies, we have put in place a multi-disciplinary team at the regional and sub-divisional levels,” Dr. Ako-Arrey said.

She said in order to curb the disease, potable water should be provided in the urban and rural areas.

“Environmental and food security should be given top priority,” she advised.

The medic enjoined members of the public to disinfect their latrines. She also recommended that more health personnel be sent to the field to sensitise the population, especially on environmental hygiene.

“The Tiko Health District has the highest number of cholera cases in the Region, with 586 cases reported. Therefore, there is need for us in the health department to increase our field staff to intensify our sensitisation campaigns,” she stated.

Southwest Regional Delegate of Public Health, Dr. John Chuwanga, said for cholera to be rolled out in a month or two, there was need for more staff because the acute shortage of staff was one of the challenges stalling their efforts.

Chuwanga stated that there is inadequate potable water supply in most of the towns in the Region. This remark, according to some stakeholders in the health sector, was directed to the Cameroon water utility company, CAMWATER, which has the mandate to provide potable water to Cameroonians.

While the Health Minister was still on his visit, the District Medical Officer, DMO, for the Limbe Health District, still in the Southwest Region, Dr. Rose Claire Bertha, announced the death of another cholera victim. This brought the total death count to six in her jurisdiction.

She said that since April 19, 390 cases have been received and some 311 have been treated and discharged, while 59 patients are still being treated at the Regional and District Hospitals in Limbe.

Bertha said after a case was diagnosed in Saker Baptist College, Limbe, the three boarding schools in the municipality; Saker Baptist College, St. Anne’s Girls College and Presbyterian Girls High School have been disinfected.

New Health Centre to go operational

Faced with the disturbing reality in Limbe, the Minister, promised to have a new health centre constructed at the cholera stricken village of Mokindi, also known as Isokolo.

Located in Limbe II Sub-division, Isokolo is one of the hardest hit by the cholera epidemic with 69 cases recorded.

Chief Alamine Ekani of Mokindi told the Minister that the population of his village is growing, but there is no access to potable water and decent health centre.

“Some parts of my village have never had access to pipe-borne water,” the Chief said.

According to Chief Alamine, the dependence on doubtful sources of water and the absence of a health facility could be attributed to the rising cholera epidemic in his village.

Boil your water

Mama Fouda went on to advise the villagers and all other persons in Limbe, Tiko, Buea and across the country, to boil their water before drinking.

“It is important for us to see how we can fight this cholera together. If you have water, make sure you boil it before drinking. Clean your fruits with water before you eat them,” Mama Fouda said.

While stating that it is difficult for Government to provide potable water to all citizens, he urged Cameroonians to follow the basic rules of hygiene to kick cholera out of the country.

He, nevertheless, promised that Government and her partners will continue to provide more medication and other supplies needed to arrest the situation in the Southwest.