CHOLERA OUTBREAK IN SUB-SAHARAN COUNTRIES

GAMBIA AFFECTED!!!

WHAT IS THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE FOR HEALTH DOING?

By Our Banjul Bureau Chief Ansumana Jammeh

Banjul:8/25/08-Investigations conducted by the Freedom Newspaper divulged that pervasive Cholera outbreak is currently proliferating in the black African countries, particularly in the western part of the continent.

   In the Gambia, the focal person for disease control Mr.Lamin Ceesay,has urged the Epidemiology and the disease control unit of the Department of State for Health to supply them with basic sanitary materials like Omo and bleach,to enable them be in position to combat any cholera in the country.

  According to reliable information obtained by this paper, the residents in the Basse Administrative area, which is bordering Mali,Guinea,Guinea Bissau and Senegal are the most vulnerable to the outbreak.

   The Freedom Newspaper contacted the Regional Health Officer Mr.Lamin Ceesay,who said sensitizing  the general public and providing them with sanitary materials is crucial in the prevention of Cholera into other parts of the country.

   He told Freedom that Cholera is a contagious and deadly disease, and that it has an incubation period of few hours to five days. He added that the disease contributes a lot to high morbidity and mortality especially among children less than five years and can also affect adults as well. He advised that hand washing is a very important preventive measure; proper disposal of human faeces,careful preparation of food, as well as avoiding contact with flies can go a long way in preventing the spread of the disease.

  Mr.Ceesay, said the sensitization is very important and crucial in the country because of the interaction of the people of the neighboring countries. He said the country's security officers were alerted to strengthen the sensitization at the border.