DAKAR, 16 July 2008 (IRIN) - While these children undergo emergency medical treatment, the government now faces the daunting task of identifying and treating further victims and decontaminating the neighbourhood once and for all.
A June mission to the affected area by the Minister of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed 71 people were suffering from poisoning, according to Dr. Coly, head of the fight against diseases at the WHO. But he says many more could be in danger.
“We did not examine everyone in the area - it was a limited study. We know the environment is contaminated and we imagine there are people among them who may be sick. The ministry of health needs to do more assessments of the area,” Dr. Coly told IRIN.
Demba Diaw one of the 1,000 residents of Ngagne Diaw, the most-affected neighbourhood in Thiaroye/Mer, told IRIN, “Here no one is safe from ingesting lead - it is in the dust that covers are houses and in the liquid that we drink.”
Dr. Hassane Yaradou, adviser to the health minister confirmed “Levels of lead remain high in homes and in the surrounding area.”
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