No fewer than 13 suspected Cholera cases were recorded in Adamawa, Prof. Abdullahi Isa, state Commissioner for Health and Human Services, has said.
Isa confirmed the development in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN while giving updates on the cholera situation in the state on Tuesday in Yola.
According to the commissioner, three cases were confirmed to be positive, while 10 were found negative.
“On June 30, 2021, a confirmed case of cholera was reported in Gogora community of Girei LGA following PCR testing at the NCDC laboratory in Abuja.
“Subsequently, suspected cases were reported in Yola South and Yola North Local Government Areas which turned out to be negative after test.
“We thank God, no single death was recorded and all the victims were treated,’’ Isa said.
He said following the development, a standing cholera treatment centre was established by the ministry at the State Specialists Hospital, Yola.
He said ambulances and supply of commodities have since commenced through both government and partners to drive the response effectively.
“Government has identified environmental sanitation as an important intervention that can change the narrative when properly implemented with full community participation.
“Also, Cholera treatment is free and government has commenced chlorination of water points in affected areas and beyond,’’ he said.
He noted that the cases had declined in the state, but transmission risk factors such as poor environmental hygiene may persist to trigger the epidemic.
He stressed the need for strong collaboration among government and private sector to overcome cholera epidemic as a public health problem.
He called on the well-meaning members of the public to report suspected cases of Acute Watery Diarrhea (loose watery stool of three times or more in 24 hours with or without vomiting and severe dehydration) to the relevant authorities in health facilities.
Isa advised communities across the state to organise weekly or bi-weekly sanitations and to ensure harmful practices like open defecation, indiscriminate dumping of refuse and consumption of dirty water are avoided.
He commended World Health Organisation, UNICEF, ICRC, among other developmental partners, for their resilience and steadfastness over the years.
The commissioner appealed to all stakeholders including international organisations, media, traditional and religious leaders for concerted efforts to ensure strict adherence to cholera prevention measures. (NAN)
