Cholera Claims Seven Lives In Gombe
BY WILLIAM ATTAH, GOMBE – An outbreak of Cholera has claimed the lives of seven persons including a two year old with six others still receiving treatment in some health facilities in Gombe.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Habu Dahiru, who disclosed this to newsmen, said that 32 others were affected, adding however that the patients were treated and discharged.
Dahiru explained that on May 21, 2021, the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre of the State Ministry of Health received a surveillance report of suspected cases of Cholera and death of a two year old child in Kalajanga village in Akko Local Government Area.
He said a Rapid Response Team was deployed immediately and the cases were confirmed in the laboratory, adding that a free treatment centre for cases was established at Bogo Model Primary Health Care (PHC) Centre.
The Health Commissioner said; “With the threshold of confirmed cases reached, I hereby declare an outbreak of Cholera in Garko Ward of Akko LGA. So far, 32 cases have been treated and discharged, six are currently on admission”.
Dahiru assured that the Ministry has activated a multi-sectoral incident management system for a prompt and coordinated response to outbreak.
While calling on the people of the State to take precautionary measures, the Commissioner said Cholera can be prevented by use of clean water, consumption of hygienically prepared meals, and properly cocked food.
He said that personal hygiene and environmental sanitation are also proven preventive measures.
