Regional Leaders R and Residents L at the consultative meetingBy: Yusuf M Hasan

BURAO (Somalilandsun) – An all-encompassing chickenpox deliberation meeting took place in Burao town.

The meeting which was organized by regional leaders saw it's all walks of life participants exchange information on the fast spreading chickenpox outbreak in Togdheer. Most of the participants including traditional/religious leaders, traders, professionals, intellectuals etc. claimed to have experienced firsthand the outbreak.

According to the Togdheer regional health coordinator Dr. Abdi Yasin, the disease has so far claimed three lives one of them having passed away while receiving treatment at the Burao regional where 400 victims of the disease are currently hospitalized.

The Doctor revealed that a large number of victims are also receiving treatment as outpatients at the regional hospital as well as in many private hospitals in Burao town. He said that medical authorities suspect the number of chickenpox related deaths might be higher than reported, Said he, "It is possible that a number of recent deaths might be attributed to the plague"

The regional health coordinator informed residents that chickenpox has no cure but is preventable through immunization, he urged all and sundry to seek vaccination at any public health facility in the region thus help stop the outbreak and resulting misery. Dr Yasin also asked members of the public to ensure that the sick receive prompt medical attention.

The Togdheer regional Governor Mr. Abdi-yare said that some people perpetrate such outbreaks by ignoring vaccinations. He asked residents to ensure that the freely availed inoculations are utilized thus avoid unnecessary deaths and ailments not only in the region but countrywide as well.

At the same instance the mayor of Burao Mahmoud Hasan "Degalab" said that the outbreak which is spreading very fast will devastate the region unless joint efforts between authorities and residents are undertaken.

This consultative meeting comes in the heels of the 1st may press conference where health officials accompanied by representatives of the World Health Organization informed that chickenpox has overwhelmed the region, with October and Saylada estates in Burao being the hardest hit.