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Iraqi president urges quick action to
control cholera outbreak in Kurdistan
31.8.2007
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Sewage-tainted well water likely behind cholera
deaths
August
31, 2007
Sulaimaniyah, Kurdistan region (Iraq), --
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani urged all concerned
bodies Thursday to exert "every possible effort" to
control the cholera breakout emanating from a water
station in Sulaimaniyah city.
President Talabani arrived in his hometown
Sulaimaniyah on Wednesday coming from Baghdad. He
made the call during his meeting with Dr. Zerian
Othman, health minister of autonomous Kurdistan, and
envoy of World Health Organization (WHO) to
Kurdistan region (northern Iraq).
A close source from Iraqi President announced to PUK
website that Talabani decided to remain in
Sulaimaniyah city until further notice to supervise
directly on the Cholera disease improvement in
Sulaimaniyah, Kirkuk and Raniya. Also Iraqi PM
Deputy Dr Barham Salih will remain with Talabani for
the same purpose, as the source added.
Othman confirmed that his ministry has taken
preventive actions, including testing water at
homes, launching a health awareness campaign, urging
owners of hotels and recreation places to sterilise
water and food, and imposing strict control on
restaurants.
The Iraqi leader called for a quick action to stop
the spread of the fatal disease in Sulaimaniyah and
Kirkuk and urged mass media to play a greater role
in raising public awareness about prevention of the
disease.
He set aside USD 100,000 in urgent medical
assistance to Kirkuk and USD 50, 000 to
Sulaimaniyah.
Local medical experts tracked down the source of the
disease and realized that it was Sulaimaniyah water
treatment station, Othman said.
Samples taken from the station showed that the
existence of the bacteria causing the fatal disease,
he disclosed.
Othman warned against imminent catastrophe in case
no immediate action was made.
The disease killed eight people including seven in
Sulaimaniyah and one in Kirkuk, he pointed out,
adding that the number of cases proven positive
doubled to 77 in Sulaimaniyah and 47 in Kirkuk.
Four aircraft carrying medical assistances arrived
to Kurdistan region form Iraqi Baghdad.
Massoud Barzani, President of the Kurdistan region,
has issued a call to tap all resources to contain
the outbreak.
The security authorities in Erbil, the capital of
Kurdistan, have taken measures to regulate the entry
of people from Kirkuk and Sulaimaniyah into the
city.
Some international missions in Erbil and
Sulaimaniyah, especially the South Korean mission,
are assisting the Kurdistan health authorities to
check the spread of the infection.
UNICEF’s team is also helping to run a comprehensive
monitoring and community awareness programme to
better detect cases and help families stay away from
contaminated water, the likely source of the
outbreak.
The agency is appealing to families in the affected
areas to ensure that children are kept away from
areas contaminated with raw sewage, always wash
their hands with soap and only drink water that has
been purified or boiled.
Serious problems with water quality and sewage
treatment are being blamed for the outbreak. Local
reports indicate that only 30 per cent of the
population in Sulaimaniyah has an adequate water
supply.
If the epidemic spreads, there will be an urgent
need for additional support including delivery of
additional oral rehydration salts, water
purification tablets, short-term water tankering and
hygiene promotion campaigns.
Kuna net.kw | AP | Reuters | PUK | AKI
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