CHOLERA: Katsina Records 118 Suspected Cases As Kaduna, Kano Report Zero

As Nigeria grapples with a surging cholera outbreak, available data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) showed that no fewer than 31 states have so far recorded 528 confirmed cases.

Out of these cases, 53 deaths have been recorded in no fewer than 117 local governments across the country.

However, the three tiers of government and their partners have been employing proactive measures to tame the outbreak and prevent it from spreading.

President Bola Tinubu had since approved the establishment of a multi-sectoral cabinet committee on the control of the epidemic headed by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate.

In Katsina, the state government said it has recorded 118 suspected cholera cases out of which two were confirmed, disclosing that it was putting in place proactive measures to curtail the possible outbreak of the disease.

The Director of Epidemiology, state Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Kabir Suleiman, disclosed this to journalists in Katsina.

Suleiman explained that cholera was an ailment caused by bacteria, which was detected with acute diarrhea.

“Based on our records, around March, this year, we had an outbreak of cholera in Kusada local government. There were 68 suspected cases where we have two confirmed cases with one death.

“The situation was effectively managed by the government together with the development partners,” he said.

Suleiman added that recently, about 118 suspected cholera samples were taken for laboratory tests.

According to him, all the cases were negative, adding, “So, for now, we don’t have new cholera cases. But the state is fully prepared for any emergency.

“Basically, we can coordinate any outbreak that can affect the state at any point in time.”

The director said the state, together with some of the development partners, have the required equipment to fight against the disease.

“We have all the needed equipment to treat such outbreaks. We have maintained our system at alert, where we are now at alert mode.

“Rapid Response Teams, including surveillance and notifications officers have already been trained on proper detection and management of such diseases.

“In terms of prevention and control, we are taking measures to curtail the spread of the disease to other places in the state,” Suleiman said

He further said that the agency has produced jingles to sensitise the residents on the causes of the disease, treatment and preventative measures.

The director further revealed that the government engaged about 3, 000 ‘Volunteer Community Mobilizers (VCMs)’ who visit house-to-house to sensitise women on the importance of maintaining personal hygiene.

Suleiman also said that the government had established ‘Oral Rehydration Points’ at the 34 Comprehensive Health Centres (CHCs) for admission and treatment of cholera cases.

“We also have a normal routine surveillance system that is working throughout the day in order to effectively fight against outbreak of emergencies like cholera,” he said.

Suleiman added that the government was also building 102 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in the state to enhance healthcare services at the rural areas across the state.

He. therefore,urged the people in the state to continue to imbibe the habit of personal hygiene and environmental sanitation, as part of the plausible measures to avert diseases’ outbreak.

Meanwhile, in Kaduna, the State Primary Health Care Board (SPHCB) said that there was no any reported case of cholera in the state in spite of it being recorded in neighboring states.

The Incident Manager (IM) of the board, Dr Abdullahi Musa, disclosed this in Kaduna.

Musa, who doubles as the board’s ‘Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer (DSNO),’ therefore said the state was alert and prepared in the advent of any emergency to curtail it in a short time.

He disclosed that the state had reactivated its rapid response team which consists of a team of experts that were competent and capable of responding to any form of outbreak or public health emergency.

Musa also said they were able to identify some of designated health facilities at the local government levels that would serve as treatment centres in case of the outbreak of cholera in the state.

He equally said they have identified some selected facilities that can diagnose the case of cholera, adding, “This are facilities that have laboratories for diagnosing cases of cholera.”

Speaking on the area of surveillance, the DSNO said they were able to sensitise many personnel on how to identify cases of cholera.
Stressing the importance of surveillance, Musa said they have Surveillance Officers, the DSNO’s at the LG level, other Surveillance Officers at facilities level and community informants.

“We were able to sensitise them so they could be informed on the current outbreak of cholera in some states, and should be able to pick up cases on time before it spread, when it eventually comes to the state,”he said.