Cholera death reported at 98

By ALISON ANIS
ABOUT 100 deaths related to cholera have been reported in villages in Western’s Middle Fly district.
Latest figures compiled by a medical team stationed at Sogere, along Bamu River, showed that there were 98 deaths out of 621 reported cases for villages around Bamu and Gamu River in Middle Fly since Nov 25.
The team, made up of two volunteer nurses attached with a church group in the area, health extension officers and other government officials said additional cases were also being reported from further east in the Turama River in Gulf.
However, they gave no updates on number of people affected or have died of cholera in the province.
The team reported that non-medical supplies have been delivered to the team at Sogere to support the three government teams stationed there.
According to the report submitted, the volunteers said they were happy that the government was now involved and were putting resources in the field to help those affected.
However, they stressed that there needed to be quick response teams in hot spots such as PiruPiru and visits to villages by teams to deliver education, establish oral rehydration salt stations and treat any cases on the spot.
“A needs analysis should be conducted at the village so we can establish a baseline and get better picture of the physical needs such as water and sanitation,” the report stated.
It stated that most of the hotspots in Daru had been contained.