Cameroon: South West Records 100 new Cholera cases in 14 days

By Boris Esono Nwenfor [caption id="attachment_95594" align="alignnone" width="1024"] In green, Minister of Public Health Manaouda Malachie on a field exercise in Buea to ascertain the veracity of the cholera epidemic in the South West.[/caption] The Minister of Public Health Dr Manaouda Malachie says the number of cholera cases in the South West Region of Cameroon continues as efforts have been intensified to mitigate this situation. In a tweet from the health boss this Wednesday, April 6, the number of cases in the South West has climbed to 100 with no deaths in just 14 days (from March 23 to April 5). “226 new cases including 2 deaths” have been recorded. “Littoral region counts 126 new cases and 2 deaths, while the accumulated cases since the start of the epidemic stand at 4, 627." As of March 22, the number of Cholera outbreaks in the South West Region of Cameroon stood at 1904 cases and 44 cumulative deaths that time. In the Mile 16 neighbourhood in Buea, the number of cases stood at 102 as of March 19, while there have been some six deaths during that time. In the whole of Buea, the number of cumulative cases stands at 326 with 6 cumulative deaths This new statistic comes after Minister Manaouda Malachie and the Minister of Water and Energy Gaston Essomba were in the region to ascertain the veracity of the outbreak. The two Ministers called on the population to be vigilant and practice proper hygiene and sanitation if the region and the country as a whole are to eradicate this epidemic that continues to claim the lives of individuals. Cholera is an acute enteric infection caused by the ingestion of Vibrio cholera bacteria present in contaminated water or food. In its severe form, it can lead to severe dehydration and death within hours if left untreated. It is primarily linked to insufficient access to safe water and adequate sanitation. It has the potential to spread rapidly, depending on the frequency of exposure, the population exposed, and the context. The South West Region is peculiar because in most of our cities there is a water crisis. Secondly, we are getting into the mango season where most people take mangoes from the tree without washing them," Dr Jambeng Emmanuel, Muyuka District Medical Officer said after a crisis meeting was organized in Limbe to ascertain the veracity of the cholera epidemic. "Traveling from place to place is also an issue as one can carry the germs from Buea, enter a bus and leave it in Muyuka. Specifically, the people of Muyuka, consume well water." [caption id="attachment_95595" align="alignnone" width="624"] Health practitioners have called on the population to practice proper hygiene and sanitation if the region and the country as a whole is to eradicate this epidemic. Picture by Boris Esono Nwenfor, PAV.[/caption] The cholera epidemic has caused untold suffering to many inhabitants in the region with the district hospitals not left out. Many have been flooded in recent days with positive cases which can be overwhelming for many health practitioners. “The situation is worrisome,” Dr Njie Constance, Limbe District Medical Officer said. “There is a recent surge in Limbe I as many cases have been registered and we are already running out of the bed capacity to accommodate the patients.” Since 2018, cholera outbreaks have been reported annually in various regions of the country including in the currently affected regions (South-West, Centre and Littoral). Several risk factors concur with the circulation of Vibrio cholera in the country, including limited access to safe drinking water and health care facilities in the affected areas of the South-West region and in the capital city of Yaoundé, as well as cultural practices that contribute to unsafe WASH conditions. "The situation is making the health facilities to be overwhelmed. We need more resources; we need medications, beds and IV Fluids to rehydrate these patients,” Dr Jambeng Emmanuel, Muyuka District Medical Officer, added. “We also need aqua taps to purify water to make sure that we protect other people.”