DELGA Council To Collaborate With Primary Health-Care Over Recurrent Cholera Outbreaks, COVID-19 Vaccination

The Degema Local Government Council is set to partner with the Primary Health-Care Management in the LGA, to combat the recurrent Cholera outbreaks, recorded in parts of the LGA, in recent times.

The collaboration would also boost the government's fight against the dreaded Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19), through grassroot sensitization on compliance with the COVID-19 protocol.

The Council Chairman, Hon. Michael John Williams, who spoke, Tuesday, when he played host to a team of Primary Health-Care officials, at his Conference Hall in Degema, stated that a coordinated awareness campaign would be adopted to properly disseminate the Health Tips to conscientize people at the local Communities.

On the COVID-19 Vaccination, the Council Boss stated that the Council leadership would play an exemplary role, in order to instill confidence in the minds of the people, especially those who have misgivings about the vaccines.

He directed the 17 Councillors of the LGA to take the sensitization to their people at the Wards, adding that the issue needed a grassroots approach to effectively handle.

The Council Boss noted that to make the message more effective and credible, Council officials should endeavour to get vaccinated, in order to instill confidence in their people.

On the Cholera outbreaks in Bakana, Tombia and Bille Communities, the Council Chairman disclosed that he was liaising with the relevant authorities and would come up with a permanent solution to end the recurrence of the disease, as soon as the root causes were identified.

Earlier, the Local Government Immunization Officer (LIO), Isokari Akobo Owuso, lamented that the LGA coverage on the COVID Vaccination was low, due to insufficient awareness, leading to underutilization of the COVID Vaccines.

The LIO, who stated that the virus was still very much around and spreading from person to person, however added that with the strategic partnership of the Council, the needed awareness would be created, resulting in behavioural and attitudinal changes amongst residents.

On her part, the Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer, Ms Limejuiceba Bob-Manuel, disclosed that about 93 Cholera cases had so far been identified, with 10 deaths recorded, since the outbreak of the disease in the LGA.

While calling for timely report of suspected cases at the Primary Health Centres, she noted that ignorance and self-medications were mostly responsible for avoidable deaths.

Ms Bob-Manuel gave the following preventive tips to contain the Cholera disease;

•Boiling of water before drinking

•Regular hand-wash

•Covering of foods

•Clean environment, etc.

Present at the meeting were; the Council Chairman, Hon. Michael John Williams, his Vice and Supervisor for Health, Hon. Mrs. Maureen Obuba Harry, and the 17 Councillors of the LGA.

While on the team of the Primary Health-Care were; Isokari Akobo Owuso (Local Government Immunization Officer), Ms Limejuiceba Bob-Manuel (Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer), Olu Adokiye (Social Mobilization Officer) and Theophilus Jacob (Deputy Immunization Officer).

Daerefa-a Christopher Braide
Chief Press Secretary
Degema Local Government Council

February 15, 2022