Cholera social mobilizers trained in Bor
By Mach Samuel Peter, Bor, Jonglei State
September 13, 2016 (SSB) — The Community Development Network Forum CDNF has trained cholera awareness campaign social moblizers in Bor. 15 community social mobilizers were trained on Preventive measures such as improved sanitation and access to clean water.
Cholera is caused by a number of types of Vibrio cholera, with some types producing more severe disease than others. It is spread mostly by water and food that has been contaminated with human feces containing the bacteria. Insufficiently cooked seafood is a common source. Risk factors for the disease include poor sanitation, not enough clean drinking water, and poverty.
Jacob Chol Tor is the Community Development Network Forum (CDNF) program director. He said transmission is usually through the fecal-oral route of contaminated food or water caused by poor sanitation.
“People infected with cholera often have diarrhea, and disease transmission may occur if this highly liquid stool, colloquially referred to as rice-water, contaminates water used by others,” Chol said.
The source of the contamination is typically other cholera sufferers when their untreated diarrheal discharge is allowed to get into waterways, groundwater or drinking water supplies.
He said drinking any infected water and eating any foods washed in the water, as well as shellfish living in the affected waterway, can cause a person to contract an infection.
CDNF was established in 2011 to support most vulnerable groups from various suffering, eradicate transmitted disease, natural diseases and assist on capacity building and empowerment of women group who are left behind on decision making and social mobilization activities.
Anyuon Atem Daniel project officer of CDNF said the classic symptom is large amounts of watery diarrhea that lasts a few days. Vomiting and muscle cramps may also occur. Diarrhea can be so severe that it leads within hours to severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.
This may result in sunken eyes, cold skin, decreased skin elasticity, and wrinkling of the hands and feet. The dehydration may result in the skin turning bluish. Symptoms start two hours to five days after exposure.
Cholera vaccines that are given by mouth provide reasonable protection for about six months. They have the added benefit of protecting against another type of diarrhea caused by E. coli.
The primary symptoms of cholera are profuse diarrhea and vomiting of clear fluid. These symptoms usually start suddenly, half a day to five days after ingestion of the bacteria. The diarrhea is frequently described as “rice water” in nature and may have a fishy odor.
An untreated person with cholera may produce 10 to 20 litres of diarrhea a day. Severe cholera, without treatment, kills about half of affected individuals. If the severe diarrhea is not treated, it can result in life-threatening dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.
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