The city of Likasi, apart from the Mura military training center, reported up to February 16th 250 cases of cholera, the first of which was reported last December, and the patients are also treated at the cholera treatment center, located at the Daco general reference hospital, in the commune of Kikula, and that 14 people have already died from this disease, with 7 within the community.

It should also be noted that from February 12th to 15th, this center recorded 158 patients, and nine have lost their lives, sources close to this center have confirmed, adding that, although all the communes of Likasi are affected, most of the victims come from the commune of Kikula, more specifically from the Okito and Kampemba neighborhoods. Residents of these neighborhoods consume water from a stream and unclean wells, they have specified. This would be at the root of the spread of this epidemic, the urban authority has reported.

That all suspected cases should be referred to the treatment center where care is free, has been recommended by the local authority. To deal with this situation, the center is provided with supplies by the provincial health division.

On Friday, February 16th, the international NGO Médecins sans frontières/France also provided supplies to this medical facility. In the meantime, the community radio of Likasi has made airtime available to community relays for raising awareness among the population about hygiene measures to observe in order to prevent the spread of cholera, reported the UN radio.

Gisèle Mbuyi