By Amoto Ndiewo
A two-year -old infant has died after she got infected with deadly cholera strain in Hagarjerer location in Mbalambala sub county, Garissa County.
The deceased Maryam Dubow had been unwell for about three days before she succumbed to the deadly waterborne disease.
Although the residents Hagarjerer location Chief Farah Abdi said there are few cholera cases, locals say the outbreak is widespread and several people are infected.
“The biting drought has affected the life of residents here,’’ said the chief who urged the residents to try to follow the required health protocols.
To add insult to injury there is no hospital facility within the region. According to residents the nearest medical facility is in Benane almost 56km away.
“There is no regular motorised transport apart from donkey and camels,’’ said Ahmed Khere, head teacher Hagarjerer school.
Khere added that the biting drought has affected the school going routine since many families have fled the region with their school going children.
“ Since we don’t have boarding facilities the families have migrated with their families to look for pasture and water in far flung areas’’ said a worried Khere.
He said few remaining parents and even the school teaching staff are also worried.
Residents’ decried, the inadequacy of saline water brought by awater bowser from Benane location.
“Every day we are confronted with cholera cases due to biting drought and using poor water,” said Abdi Karim, a resident.
The Mbalambala Sub County Director of Education Sadia Guhad said they ministry and the line ministries are keenly monitoring the situation.
Residents fear due to the remoteness of the area more souls could have lost their lives to cholera .
“And since we have a nomadic lifestyle the cholera strain could spread in neighbouring Isiolo and Meru counties and wherever they have sought pasture and water,” Farah said.
