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Taraba speaker raises alarm on cholera outbreak

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TARA

Speaker of Taraba State House of Assembly, Joseph Albasu Kunini, has raised alarm on an outbreak of cholera in the state.

The outbreak has killed no fewer than 10 persons in the Lau local government council with over 100 others hospitalized.

The speaker, who raised the alarm on Monday under Matter of Public Importance on the floor of the House of Assembly, said the people of the affected communities are in dire need of medical attention and medication.

In a motion titled, “The need for the state government to promptly move to stop the spread of the outbreak of cholera epidemic in Lau Local Government Area of Taraba State,” the Speaker lamented that cholera outbreak has become perennial in the constituency.

According to him, the cholera outbreak in the area, which occurred a couple of days ago, has spread like wildfire, just as he warned that if the epidemic was not nipped in the bud, it would spread to neighbouring local government areas in the state and even beyond.

Part of the motion read: “This Honourable House is aware that by the second week of the month of July, 2022 there was a sudden outbreak of the deadly cholera epidemic believed to be caused by the flood as a result of heavy rainfall in Lau Local Government Area.”

Communities affected as enumerated by him, are “Bwei Yaka, Donadda Ward, Kunini in Kunini ward, Garin Magaji Ward, and Garin Dogo Ward.”

The speaker, who noted that “about 100 people, including women and children, affected and over 10 persons reportedly lost their lives” said “If prompt measures are not taken, this deadly disease will continue to spread like wildfire thereby causing havoc on the socio-economic and political activities of the people not only in Lau but in other parts of the state and beyond.”

Adding that “only recently government response to the outbreak of the Corona epidemic brought about untold hardship to the people as well as witnessed series of lockdown and, therefore, as a government there is the need to act fast, to ensure history is not repeated.”

The motion was seconded by the Chief Whip and Member representing Zing State Constituency, John Kizito Bonzena with other members contributing and supporting it and calling the appropriate authorities to rise up to the challenge.