The Chairman of Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Mr Steven Nwankpa has banned all forms ceremonies in the area following the recent outbreak of cholera.
The state government had on Thursday, through the Commissioner for Health, Dr Moses Ekuma, announced the death of 11 people in Ndibokote, Ezzainyimegu community of the council as a result of the outbreak.
Nwankpa, who commended health workers for their support, described the incident as shocking and appealed to residents of the area to suspend any burial ceremony or mass gathering until further notice.
A stakeholder from the community, Elder Stephen Nwamkpuma linked the outbreak to some members of the community who brought home some pieces of beef from a burial ceremony in Benue State. According to him, after eaten the meat, the people started vomiting resulting to the spread of the disease.
The village head, Chief Lazarus Iziogo who lauded the Ebonyi State government for its quick response, urged the government to come to their rescue by building motorized boreholes in the community as they have been relying on pond and stream water despite the outbreak.