- Written by By Chukwuma Muanya (Lagos) and Emeka Anuforo (Abuja)
Govt records 1,623 casesCASES of infections and deaths from the cholera outbreak in the country are on the increase, with the Ministry of Health again identifying measures to check the epidemic.
Statistics from the Ministry of Health Thursday indicated that 1,623 cases had been recorded, while 86 deaths had been reported.
According to the breakdown, Zamfara State has the highest figure of 1,110 cases and 51 deaths while Plateau State has 130 cases and 11 deaths. Others are Lagos State (134 cases, four deaths), Ogun State (115 cases, five deaths), Nasarawa State (105 cases, nine deaths) and Oyo State (29 cases, six deaths).
In a statement yesterday by his Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Mr. Dan Nwomeh, the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, said the figures were estimates, and that “trickles of incidences and mortalities may still be coming.”
According to him, “in Sokoto and Katsina states, the gastroenteritis outbreaks have not been proved to be cholera. While further investigations continue, only confirmed cases are included in the current statistics.
“The outbreak in the states mentioned earlier has been confirmed by our laboratories to be caused by Vibiro cholerae serotypes 01 and 0139. The affected states are being supported to respond to the outbreak by supplying them with emergency drugs, diagnostic kits and other commodities.
“The Federal Ministry of Health realises that the affected states will require further assistance and efforts are being made to upscale our technical and material assistance to those states immediately.”
He directed the immediate release of adequate quantities of emergency drugs (cholera kits) to all the affected states for prompt and adequate treatment of cases and additional deployment of rapid response teams from the ministry to all the affected states to assist in investigating and verifying the cases and tracing contacts.
Chukwu also ordered the mobilisation and sensitisation of clinicians and relevant healthcare workers in areas affected for patient management and care and the immediate enhancement of health promotion/public awareness campaign to enhance, among others, good personal, community and food hygiene.
The minister also asked all federal health facilities in the country to provide free services to cholera patients, and urged Nigerians, including healthcare workers, to increase their propensity for hygiene-based health-seeking behaviour that will ensure their safety.
He listed the hygiene practices to include hand washing with soap after visiting the toilet and also before eating, regular and intermittent washing of hand with soap and water, avoidance of open defecation, boiling of water before drinking, protection of food from houseflies, thorough washing of fruits and vegetables before eating, and environmental cleanliness.
Meanwhile, Chukwu has directed the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to immediately co-ordinate all response activities and report to him daily on the patterns of occurrence, efforts at achieving total control of the outbreaks and status of the control.
He assured that the Federal Government would continue to enhance surveillance and intervention measures, and implement public health awareness campaigns aimed at stemming occurrences.
He further solicited the support and understanding of all Nigerians in efforts to end the outbreak of the disease, while thanking the World Health Organisation (WHO) and all other collaborating partners “for their invaluable assistance.”
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