Polio epidemic hits refugee children

Three cases of poliomyelitis have been identified among refugee children in Mora, Far North Region, despite efforts by the Government of Cameroon to eradicate the virus in the country. A Red Cross official, Michel Koumey, said, October 08.

The polio outbreak among the refugees comes on the heels of a nationwide vaccination campaign against the virus.

Koumey heads a team of 15 volunteer Red Cross officials who register and take care of refugees gathered in an improvised camp at the stadium in Mora. According to him, the refugee children have no medical attention and this has exposed them to the polio virus.

“I vaccinated all of them, from the youngest to the oldest and myself, when we discovered it,” said Koumey.

The Children affected are below five years and have not yet received any medical care since they were diagnosed late in September. Officials said there were no resources to provide refugee children the medical attention they required.

Meanwhile, the ICRC officials said they sensitise the refugees on preventive measures against the virus and other infections that could pose a threat to their health.

The District Officer for Health, Dr. Togue, said the refugee children and other kids in the locality are at risk of infection.

“There is even the risk of Ebola, Cholera, STIs and Malaria. The population is very poor and we need to emphasise on prevention,” said Dr Togue.

According to him, the risk of a cholera outbreak is particularly high because of the water that runs down the hills in the locality during the rainy season.

“But we have sensitised the population to stop drinking the water. Alternatively, we are constructing bore holes for them to have good quality water,” the health official stated.

Another deadly disease among the refugees is Malaria, identified as the main cause of deaths in the Far North Region, with children less than five being the most vulnerable.