Ajayi Folaranmi
NO fewer than three persons were reported to have been killed by cholera disease in Itagunmodi, Atakunmosa West Central Local Council Development Area (LCDA), State of Osun.
Two other members of the community also tested positive to cholera according to a press statement made available to OSUN DEFENDER by the Itagunmodi Progressive Youth Forum yesterday.
But the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Rafiu Isamotu, said the government was not aware of the cholera outbreak in the area.
In the press statement signed by Mr. Alapa Oladapo Clinton, the Assistant Secretary of Itagunmodi community, the group called the attention of the local government authority to the cholera outbreak, urging it to take urgent step.
OSUN DEFENDER noted that Itagunmodi is a dirty and unkempt community and there is no access to quality water, which is majorly responsible for the outbreak of the disease.
Oladapo also commented that the cholera outbreak is traceable to the untidy environment since the invasion of gold miners in the community.
According to him, Itagunmodi was a hygienic environment until the invasion of Northerners, who were in the quest for greener pastures through mining interests.
He said: “The people here did not have access to good water. The entire community is crying for help on portable water. Mining activities have spoilt the well and stream water that we have.
“It saddens that we found ourselves in this horrible situation as most of the happenings in this part of the state don’t get to the media space.”
He called on the local government council authority to assist the community in rehabilitating the water system, saying the lack of portable water is a hostile contributor to the poor health systems in the community.
Cholera is caused by the vibrio cholera bacterium through ingestion of contaminated water or food usually marked by severe gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting and dehydration.
