Faysal Maxamed Xasan(Boston), Hiiraan Online
[email protected]
Sunday, July 20, 2008
advertisements
Bossaso, Somalia (HOL) - The city of Baar-gaal in Puntland, the semi-autonomous region in north-east of Somalia is witnessing an outbreak of Cholera. The disease has infected several children and elderly people in last 24 hours. Some of the people who came down with the disease have been brought to the general hospital of the port city of Bosaso.
Mayor of the city of Baar-gaal requested from aid agencies to provide assistance to those infected with the disease. The condition of the people in the town is worsening, according to sources.
Other towns in the province have already witnessed outbreaks of the disease and several people have died in the town of Qandala.
Public health experts recently visited Baar-gaal town to get understanding of the public health condition of the city’s people but did not give any aid to city’s people.
Cholera has infected several parts of the province of Bari in Puntland. Last month several children and women have died from the disease.
Puntland is relatively peaceful compared to southern Somalia where cholera has been more common. Due to lack effective central government and continuous civil war in Somalia, particularly in southern Somalia, aid agencies and public health experts are worried that infectious diseases which are easily preventable and treatable in developed countries, can easily get out of hand in Somalia.
Additional contribution by Mohamed Amin Ahmed, Hiiraan Online
[email protected]