Report by Sami Saleh
ADEN, April 30 (KUNA) -- Yemen is currently witnessing rapid spread of the deadly cholera which has so far hit 250,000 people and more than 500 mortalities amidst fears such epidemic can become the worst epidemic worldwide.
Undersecretary of the Yemeni Health Ministry for Primary Care Dr. Ali Al-Waleedi told KUNA today that some 249,548 cases of cholera have so far been reported since beginning of the year, including 505 mortalities until April 23.
He said that the ministry has supplied numerous medical centers for the treatment of cholera and the subsequent diarrhea cases, as well as training of medical cadres and coordinating efforts with the Ministry of water and Environment besides other supportive organizations in order to stop the spread of this epidemic.
He pointed out that the spread of cholera was heavily seen in areas used to be controlled by the Houthi militias due to disruption caused to the health bodies after their cadres were forced to leave a matter that has affected the health policies adopted by the ministry with its partners and supporters.
He said that the governorates of Sanaa and its suburbs had the lion's share in the number of registered cholera cases totaling 76,000 followed by Hodeidah, Ibb, Amran and Dhamar.
Al-Waleedi noted that the cholera cases in most of the provinces under the control of the legitimate government were very low, registering 11 cases in Hadhramout, 10 in Al-Mahrah, 120 in Shabwah and 300 in Abyan.
He asserted that the Yemeni government has fulfilled its commitment towards all provinces, stating that the Health Ministry has supplied the Houthi-controlled areas with necessary medicines and medical supplies during the first and second epidemic waves.
He said that such supplies were provided by the King Salman Relief and Humanitarian Work Society, UAE Red Crescent and Kuwait Relief Society.
He expressed hope Yemen would be able to overcome this wave of epidemic similar to the previous calamities thanks to the help of brothers and friends.
Yemeni doctors attribute majority of fatalities to the delay of ambulances and the dehydration cases of the patients associated with renal failure.
The Yemeni government and its regional and international partners exert tremendous efforts to control the wave of the deadly cholera epidemic through preventive and medical treatment.(end).
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