Outbreak of Cholera Looms in Akwa Ibom Market, As Refuse Dump Remains for Over One Week Without Evacuation

Traders at Itam Market, Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, have appealed to the Governor of the State, Pastor Umo Eno, to immediately order for the evacuation of heap of refuse in the market that has been abandoned close to one week now, warning that any disregard to their plea might result in an outbreak of cholera in the State.

The traders who spoke to our correspondent on Wednesday during a visit to the market to observe the situation, expressed fear that the odour oozing out of the dump might also discourage customers from visiting the market to patronize them.

A trader at the market, Mary Asanga, said the abandonment of that particular refuse dump had become a recurring decimal, despite its location and the fact that it is by a busy road to and from Calabar, Cross River State.

She recounted that sometime not too long ago, the same refuse dump was left unattended to for close to two weeks, a situation she said almost blocked the road, forcing commuters to seek alternative routes for their journey.

“This refuse dump has always been abandoned for days and sometimes, weeks. They don’t even consider that it is dangerous to our health and even to the health of people passing along this road.

“I think last month or early this month, this same dump was left for close to two weeks. It almost blocked the road because, people were still dropping their waste. When it became too much for people to bear, they had to used other roads. Even our customers stopped coming”.

Another trader who gave her name as Imoh Akpan, told our correspondent that they were endangered by the lackadaisical attitude of the Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSEPWMA), saying it lacked promptness and commitment in evacuating waste generally in the state.

She therefore, urged the Akwa Ibom State Government to intervene, with a view to protecting the health of its citizens in the market and also those living around the area.

On the health implications of having a refuse dump in the market, a health expert, Ekpedeme Jumbo, said it was unhygienic in the first instance to have a refuse dump in a market of such importance in the state, especially without measures in place for daily and prompt evacuation.

He said such negligence or lack of dedication on the part of AKSEPWMA was detrimental to the health of the traders and buyers as well, as this could lead to an outbreak of cholera and other diseases in Akwa Ibom State.

Mr. Jumbo particularly observed that fruits and other food stuff that are usually sold around the dump might easily be infected, as flies from the refuse could perch on them in their numbers.

“I sometimes drive along the market and see that heap of refuse. It is an eyesore and very unhygienic. This can cause a serious outbreak of cholera and other diseases. Those fruits and food stuff sold around the dump are not safe for consumption. You cannot imagine the number of flies that can perch on them in one minute.

“I think the agency responsible for timely evacuation of waste in the state has not shown commitment towards keeping the state clean. Something must be done before something happens”.

As at the time of filing this report, a member of staff of the Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency who responded to a call from our correspondent to find out the circumstances surrounding the delay in the evacuation of the refuse at the market, said she was busy and therefore, would return the call afterwards.

Kristina Reports will continue to provide ongoing updates on the agency’s response as it comes.