Owukpa: Deputy Speaker’s aide speaks as over 40 people die mysteriously in Benue community

Engr. Julius Inedu , a Senior Legislative Aide to the Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase, has reacted to the mysterious death sweeping across Owukpa community in Benue State.

IDOMA VOICE reports that over 40 persons have so far died in Owukpa following the outbreak of suspected yellow fever.

However, Inedu, a native of Owukpa believed that if indeed, the cause of these strange deaths in his country home is Yellow Fever, “the authorities concerned to give maximum attention to Owukpa as was done at Epeilo to bring the situation under control.”

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Speaker’s SLA, also enjoined the people to be vigilant and should not wait until situations get out of hand before reporting to a nearby clinic or health expert within their localities

His statement below.

It seems the initial diagnosis of Yellow Fever as the cause of the strange deaths in parts of Ogbadibo in recent weeks might not have brought a lasting succour to my people of Owukpa as the deaths have continued at a geometric proportion in the last couple of days.

I am alarmed that the best efforts so far are not yielding the desired results for now.

While I sincerely appreciate the work and relentless efforts of the Ogbadibo Local Government, the Benue State Government, the Federal Government and the W.H.O in this difficult times of uncertainties, I also call for caution so that we are not quick to embrace a ‘one size fit all’ approach and become complacent in handling this health challenges ravaging our rural communities.

With the initial samples taken from Epeilo in Otukpa confirming an outbreak of Yellow Fever, it’s high time medical experts on ground subject samples from Owukpa to a different laboratory test to broaden the scope of investigations as more medical personnel, equipment and drugs are needed in the communities.

If indeed the cause of these strange deaths is Yellow Fever, I call on the authorities concerned to give maximum attention to Owukpa as was done at Epeilo to bring the situation under control.

The ongoing 10 day Yellow Fever immunization campaign is a welcome development but vaccination is not a cure for those already infected. I call on the State Government through the Hon. Supervising Commissioner for Health who is an indigene of Ogbadibo by no coincidence to equip a hospital within Owukpa that can handle the emergencies as the bad road infrastructure within the community does not encourage taking patients to distant places for treatment.

I also enjoin the local government authority to make sure the Yellow Fever vaccines are provided at designated Primary Health Centres within the 3 Districts of the local government at the end of the 10 day exercise so that it can be a continuous process.

I enjoin our people to be vigilant and should not wait until situations get out of hand before reporting to a nearby clinic or health expert within their localities.

Above all, I pray to God Almighty to heal our land and save our people from this ravaging plague.

Thank you and God bless us all.

Hon. (Engr.) Julius Inedu FMP, MNSE
Senior Legislative Aide
To The Deputy Speaker