Via allAfrica.com, a report from the Concord Times: Sierra Leone: Cholera Situation in Moyamba District - a Concord Times Investigation. Excerpt:
Moyamba — More than 159 cholera cases have been reported to health centres in Moyamba District since the outbreak of the disease was confirmed in the district on the 25th July, 2012, Concord Times investigations have revealed.
According to the District Medical Officer (DMO), Dr. Adekali Kamara, the first case of cholera was recorded at Mogbanka village, adding that they recorded 101 cases from that time to the 27th of August this year. The DMO also confirmed that 13 deaths have so far been recorded.
To stem the epidemic, Dr. Kamara said they have formed a 'District Cholera Task Force' which will be meeting every Wednesday to discuss issues around the disease and give update on efforts at reversing the trend. The task force, according to the DMO, is made up of three sub-committees which include supply committee, social mobilization committee, and case management committee.
A group of 12 nurses from Dasse, Kargboro, Tamndale and Ribbi chiefdoms (all in the Moyamba District) - who did not want their identities disclosed - told Concord Times that medical centers in the areas lack drips and other essential drugs to adequately respond to the outbreak.
Responding to this, Dr. Kamara said they have created five centers in the district that are equipped with enough medical supplies for the treatment of cholera cases. This, he said, makes it easy for the Health Ministry to promptly respond to the outbreak.
According to Dr. Kamara, they cannot supply all the centers with drugs since there are 98 peripheral health units (PHUs) in the district. He cited Mokobo, Taiama, Mosenesie Junction, Rotifunk and Gandohun as the five centers they have created in the district to respond to cholera cases reported. He maintained that the centers can deal with any case reported through other smaller centers that are closer to them.
Some remote parts in Ribbi and Kargboro chiefdoms are the hardest hit by the outbreak in the Moyamba District. Concord Times' Moyamba reporter travelled to Ribbi to investigate the reason why this area has been one of the hardest hit in the district.
Responding to queries from the reporter, the nurse in charge of the Suen MCH aide post in one of the remote areas in the of chiefdom which is about 49 miles from Moyamba town and 30 miles away from the nearest cholera response center located at Rotifunk in the Bumpeh chiefdom, confirmed that she has received more than 23 cases of cholera. She disclosed that at least three of the infected people did not survive the disease.
The nurse, who preferred not to be named, blamed the cholera outbreak in the area to people's poor hygiene practice and their refusal to adhere to medical advice. She said the three victims that lost their lives as a result of the disease failed to report to the health center immediately they were attacked by the disease, pointing out that they were only conveyed to the center by their relatives when they were at the point of death.
