Bayelsa Govt Confirms Cholera Outbreak Amid Initial Denials

The Bayelsa State Government has confirmed an outbreak of cholera in several parts of the state, following earlier denials and public confusion. The announcement came after weeks of speculation and criticism from local organizations.

Professor Seiyefa Brisibe, the state’s Commissioner for Health, confirmed the cholera outbreak during a radio interview. He revealed that cases have been reported in Agoro, Nembe, and Esoni communities, urging residents to maintain proper hygiene to curb the spread of the disease.

Brisibe stressed that there have been no reported deaths in government-run healthcare facilities, emphasizing that cholera is a preventable disease if hygiene practices are followed. The statement came after the Bayelsa Non-Governmental Organisations Forum (BANGOF) raised alarm over fatalities in the Nembe Local Government Area, which they attributed to cholera.

BANGOF Chairman, Mr. Taritein Boco, expressed frustration over the government’s delayed response, including its failure to release clinical test results in a timely manner. The group initially raised concerns that the outbreak was being downplayed as a case of gastroenteritis, with Boco accusing the government of negligence.

Prominent chiefs in Nembe also criticised the government’s denial, describing it as politically motivated.