The National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Bayelsa, on Sunday, said it has commenced sensitisation to alert the residents of an outbreak of cholera in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the statewide sensitisation followed confirmation of the outbreak by Prof. Seiyefa Brisibe, the State’s Commissioner for Health, on Jan 26.
The acting State Director of NOA in Bayelsa, Mrs Grace Olobio, made this known in a statement issued in Yenagoa.
Olobio said that “the outbreak is believed to have been caused by contamination of water sources and poor sanitation facilities in the affected areas.”
She explained that signs and symptoms of the disease included: diarrhea, low blood pressure, dehydration, sunken eyes and extreme thirst, rapid weight loss, dry and shriveled skin as well as vomiting.
The NOA boss advised the residents to prevent the disease by boiling their water before drinking, wash their hands frequently with soap and running clean water.
She further counselled the people to avoid eating raw and under cooked foods, avoid open defecation and improper disposal of waste.
While calling for calm, the NOA boss urged residents of the state to take immediate precautions to prevent further spread of cholera across the state.
She urged the residents to seek medical attention whenever symptoms of the disease are noticed. (NAN)
