The National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Bayelsa on Sunday announced that it has commenced sensitisation to alert the public of an outbreak of cholera in the state.
The development follows confirmation by Prof Seiyefa Brisibe, the State’s Commissioner for Health on Jan 26.
Bayelsa, an oil-rich state has been grappling with Cholera, a waterborne disease that thrives due to lack of potable water in spite of declaring a revenue in excess of N193 bn as of January, 2025 in its treasury according to the latest figures provided at monthly transparency briefing on Thursday..
Mrs Grace Olobio, Acting State Director of NOA in Bayelsa made this known in a statement issued in Yenagoa.
She said the outbreak is believed to have been caused by contamination of water sources and poor sanitation facilities in the affected areas.
Olobio explained that signs and symptoms of the disease include diarrhea, low blood pressure, dehydration, sunken eyes and extreme thirst, rapid weight loss, dry and shriveled skin and vomiting.
The NOA advised the people that to prevent the disease, residents should boil their water before drinking, wash their hands frequently with soap and running clean water.
The agency further counselled the people to avoid eating raw and undercooked food, avoid open defecation and improper disposal of waste.
While calling for calm , the NOA boss in Bayelsa urged residents of the state to take immediate precautions to prevent further spread of Cholera across the state.
Also, the NOA urged the people to seek medical attention whenever symptoms of the disease are noticed.
The outbreak was initially denied by the state government in December 2024 when health workers reported widespread cases of diarrhoea in Nembe Local Government Area (LGA).
The health emergency was first highlighted by the Bayelsa Non-Governmental Organisations Forum, which reported fatalities in Nembe LGA.
The coalition criticised the government’s delay in releasing clinical test results and its initial description of the outbreak as gastroenteritis.
BANGOF Chairman, Mr. Taritein Boco, expressed disappointment over the government’s position, stating that “people are dying” and that health workers had observed cholera symptoms, including “rice water stool.”
