Cholera kills 153 in Far North, UNICEF reports

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Cameroon has revealed that 153 deaths from cholera were registered in the Far North region, the daily newspaper Mutations reported on Wednesday, December 16, 2015.

This is because "it is one of the regions with very low access to water, sanitation and hygiene services. 54% of people lack access to safe drinking water, 35% to basic sanitation and 25% of households practice defecation in the open due to lack of latrines," said Félicite Tchibindat, UNICEF representative in Cameroon.

According to UNICEF, the situation of poor access to services like the supply drinking Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) is exacerbated by the massive influx of refugees and IDPs fleeing the atrocities of terrorist sect Boko Haram.

To fight against cholera and other waterborne diseases, access improvement project to clean water and sanitation has allowed in its water component, construction, and commissioning of 132 boreholes in 13 towns.

And one dedicated to sanitation led to the promotion of hygiene and sanitation in 300 communities. To ensure the sustainability and maintenance of these works, 57 repairmen, and 132 management committees have been trained and equipped for this purpose, sources informed.

In order to support the sustainability of these structures, which is a gift from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), 3 pick-up vehicles and 13 motorbikes was delivered by UNICEF on Monday at the Ministry of Water and Energy (MINEE).

This UNICEF donation delivered to the Ministry of Water and Energy supports the Government in monitoring, management and maintenance of structures built to improve access to drinking water and the sanitation.