Director General, Cross River state Primary Healthcare Care Agency Janet Ekpenyong, has confirmed the death of seven children from cholera in the state.
Ekpenyong, who confirmed the deaths in an interview with Newsmen in Calabar, said the agency recorded more than 600 suspected cases in the state between March and April.
He said that treatment was initiated after samples were collected for microscopic test, but sadly however, some of the children died before the results were out.
According to the DG, the children are the most vulnerable to diarrhoea, because they play mostly with dirt and still use their hands to eat without washing them.
On sensitisation, Ekpenyong said that her goal was working with the National Orientation Agency and other partners to sensitise mothers on the importance of maintaining hygienic habits and drinking clean water.
She noted that most of the cases were as a result of drinking unclean water that had been contaminated by faeces from open defacation, especially in rural areas without toilets.
