MEASLES: 50 CHILDREN FEARED DEAD IN RIVERS COMMUNITIES
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By Sumayyah Olapade
About 50 children are feared dead following a measles outbreak in Kugbo Clan of Abua/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The disease, which was first reported in the Amurouttoru-Kugbo community, has now spread to the Emago-Kugbo and Akani-Kugbo communities, killing several children in all three.
Levi Marcus, Chairman of the Emago Kugbo Community Community Development Committee, confirmed the incident to newsmen in Port Harcourt.
“We have a situation that is ravaging the Okugbo Clan,” Marcus explained. Emakgbo, Akani, and Akpotu, to be exact. And the situation in question is measles.
“From what we saw and confirmed, 20 children died in Akani-Okugbo.” Then again, if you go to Amuruotoru, we have the same problem. We have up to 15 documented cases.
“We made every effort to contact the government, but they (the government) have not responded.”
Also speaking, Edoghotu Edwin, the Youth Leader of Emago-Kugbo community, who said he visited other communities to assess the situation, urged the state government to come to the communities’ aid.
“The current situation is dire. Measles has infiltrated the community, and the children are suffering as a result. In Emago, over 15 children have died.
“The problem has spread to Akani and Amuruotor.” And we’re asking the government for help because there aren’t enough health workers to deal with the situation,” Edwin explained.
Meanwhile, a health expert, Dr. Eli Sokarimie, claims that a recent report on the prevalence of measles in Nigeria shows that Rivers State has the lowest rate.
According to Sokarimie, executive director of the Mother Baby and Adolescent Global Health Foundation, the outbreak of measles in the area could be attributed to a lack of surveillance, failure to immunize babies, and a lack of sensitization.
“Rivers State had the lowest prevalence of measles infection, with 11 per 100,000 cases.”
“However, reports show that the prevalence of measles among children under the age of five has been steadily increasing in Nigeria.”
“At the moment, there has been an outcry of measles infection in parts of the state, particularly in Abua/Odual local government area.”
The gynecologist urged government officials at all levels and private businesses to do everything possible to ensure that people in rural areas are immunized and aware of the dangers of measles and other diseases.
The state government is yet to speak on the matter, as an official in the ministry said the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, was attending a commissioning programme in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
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