By: TUNDE BOLAJI MINNA.
The cholera pandemic has spread to Sixteen local Councils of Niger State as at the weekend and no fewer than Four Hundred and Nine persons were so far affected by the disease.
The state Commissioner, for Ministry Primary Health Care, Dr Ibrahim Ahmed Dangana made the disclosed, while speaking to newsmen during the unveiling of sensitization on the Measles – Rubella campaign in Minna.
Dr. Dangana had hinted that though the death toll still remain at (13), saying that state government has put in place necessary measures to contain the spread of the infection.
He further explained that the government is well position to manage all the affected persons.
“We have identified isolation and treatment centers across all the 25 local Councils, not just Minna, the state capital, saying that government had made available essential supplies of drugs and medicines including intravenous fluid to all the treatment centers, emphasizing that the treatment is free of charge to all the patients, we are not charging, because, we want to quickly control the situation”. He said.
The Commissioner pointed out that other majors put in place include the stakeholders meeting of state multi-sectorial committee on epidemic preparedness and response, stressing that his ministry is working closely with the relevant ministries such as Environment, Water and Sanitation as well as all the development partners in the state.
Dr. Ibrahim applauded development partners, the UNICEF, WHO and others for their unwavering support to the state government, he promised that government would sustained the synergy.
He however advised the people to be conscious of their personal hygiene as well as environmental hygiene, he also urged the people to be wearing of their water sources, and ensure they sanitize water before consumption, adding that cholera is spread by the contaminated water and food within the environment.
Dr. Dangana’s word’s”. People should not practice open dification, people should stop dumping refuse in the rain, because, some people are in the habit of dumping refuse in the rain so that the rain will wash down the refused, it is a very bad practice”. He warned.
