The Rivers State Government has refuted reports of a cholera outbreak and the death of some persons in the Soku community in the Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of the State.
The government issued a stern warning to anyone or any organization wishing to implement a health program without first notifying the state ministry of health that they would be subject to an investigation and necessary action.
This was said in a statement released in Port Harcourt on Monday by Dr. Adaeze Oreh, the State Commissioner for Health.
The statement reads, “The Rivers State Ministry of Health has received numerous inquiries from the press regarding an alleged outbreak of cholera in the Soku community in Akuku Toru LGA.
“Public health teams dispatched to investigate these alleged cases, and deaths have so far received no confirmation of such. The ongoing medical outreach in the Soku community is in no way related to any outbreak of cholera.
“Outreaches have always been a way of getting accessible healthcare to under-served and vulnerable populations.
However, all such outreach activities must be conducted with approval from and in collaboration with the State Ministry of Health, and as such, no entity should be conducting outreaches outside the coordination of the Ministry.
“All infectious diseases of this nature are to be reported, managed, and escalated by the Rivers State Ministry of Health.
“This statement should, therefore, serve as a strong warning to anyone conducting or planning health activities without due recourse to the Rivers State Ministry of Health.
