Cholera kills 70 people in the far North

According to statistics recorded on 24th July by the regional delegation of public health of the far North, the number of cases proven to have been cholera infection stood at 1,252.

And according to that same statistics, 70 people have already died from the cholera outbreak. To Faubert Banbe, Chief of the regional EPI of the far North, these figures are very volatile given the pace of disease progression.

To limit the damage, in the boroughs of Mogode, Hina and Bourha which recorded the largest number of cases of patients, the sale of "bil - bil", a traditional drink has been banned until further notice. Similarly, the peddling of certain foods and fruits in periodic markets has been prohibited temporarily.

The spread of the disease is linked to bad habits, tradition, and beliefs, noted Flaubert Bailey. It is the only Department in the six regions which preaches by bad example. "Majority of the populations does not defecate in the WC, while others get their drinking water from rivers. For some, the epidemic raging is not cholera, but it is simply witchcraft", observed Flaubert Bailey.

Thus, the populations does not apply the advices provided by health officials regularly present on the field since the disease was declared at Mogode, April 26, 2014. However, it is important to note also that the Department of Mayo-Tsanaga is not well grounded as far as drinking water distribution systems are concern.

"Populations are forced to overcome enormous difficulties to have drinking water. Worse still, the return of rain increases the spread of the disease", noted an inhabitant of Mokolo.