Cholera Outbreak Claims 28 Lives in Kano
Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Kabiru Gesto, on Tuesday confirmed that the state has so far recorded 28 deaths between January and July this year.
Gesto noted that 400 cases of acute watery diarrhoea had been recorded, while 50 cases of cholera across 33 local government areas of the state were also confirmed.
Briefing newsmen in Kano yesterday on the flag-off of the first round of 2018 Maternal New Born and Child Health Week, the commissioner said the state government, through the ministry, had instituted several control measures to combat the outbreak, currently ravaging 17 states of the federation.
“As you might be aware, the country is currently experiencing increased incidence of acute watery diarrhea and an ongoing cholera outbreak in 17 states.
“The sum of N32 Million has been provided to tackle the outbreak, just as a Rapid Respond Team has been set up, as well as mounting of continuous surveillance for all epidemic prone diseases.”
According to Getso, it depends, not only on government but also on other key stakeholders, such as the civil society organizations, media, community-based organizations, families and individuals, assuring that the situation was highly under control.
Furthermore, the commissioner advised the general public to adopt safety measures, such as drinking safe and clean water by using chlorine to treat the water, avoiding open defecation, ensuring regular washing of hands, with soap on a regular basis, as well as ensuring that suspected cases are reported to a nearby health facility.
In the same vein, the state government has earmarked N98 million for the provision of essential drugs for MNCH week, in which such services would be provided free of charge for the benefit of women and children in the state.
He said the state government was targeting 2.7 million under-five children, as well as 500, 000 pregnant women for immunisation.
Similarly, he emphasised that, as part of the state government’s commitment to ensuring good health delivery system in the state, over N4 billion worth of drugs and medical consumables had been provided by the Ganduje-led administration, adding that arrangements had been concluded to engage the services of 150 nurses to address the shortage of manpower in some of the state hospitals.
By: Ted Odogwu, Kano
The Punch News
