Cameroon’s fresh wave of cholera outbreak has killed at least 17 people. The authorities in Cameroon have blamed floods in Chad and Nigeria for the renewed outbreak wave.
Within a week, an unknown number of people are still feared dead in difficult-to-access areas of the nation. Consequently, on Wednesday, Cameroon officials convened an emergency meeting by government officials and relief agencies.
During the meeting, officials ordered the deployment of humanitarian workers to overcrowded hospitals, especially on the border with Nigeria.
According to the ministry of Public Health of Cameroon, health officials have detected hundreds of new cholera cases in the country. Out of these, the areas sharing a border with Nigeria are the hotspots.
Reportedly, at least 17 people are dead—further, many other civilians are admitted to hospitals, desperate for treatment.
According to the government, the death toll and suspected infections may be higher. This is because humanitarian workers are unable to travel to difficult to access towns and villages.
The government has stated that insecurity from ongoing Boko Haram terrorist attacks prevents aid workers from assisting suspected cholera patients in some localities on Cameroon’s northern border with Chad and Nigeria.
Midjiyawa Bakary, the governor of the North region of Cameroon on the border with Chad and Nigeria, stated that he presided at the emergency meeting ordered by Cameroon president Paul Biya on Wednesday.
During the meeting, the officials decided that all civilians on Cameroon’s northern border with Chad and Nigeria must be urged to respect the measures taken at the emergency meeting to reduce and/or stop the wave of cholera attacks.
According to Bakary, the local councils must construct community toilets and lavatories. Civilians must use the restrooms. Additionally, people should stop drinking water from flooded streams, which are likely contaminated.
Bakary stated that Cameroon’s military is responsible for protecting health workers dispatched to areas still suffering Boko Haram attacks.
Further, Bakary said humanitarian workers in affected towns and villages instruct civilians to consume cooked food and boiling water to reduce cholera contamination and infections, especially among children.
