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BY WILLIAM ATTAH, GOMBE – The Gombe State government has announced an outbreak of cholera that has so far claimed the lives of four persons with 48 others affected in Gombe Local Government Area of the state in the last one week.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Habu Dahiru, announced this while briefing journalists on Tuesday, said that 27 cases have so far been confirmed as cholera.
Dahiru said that since August 7, 2021, there had been a reported increase in the number of persons presenting complains of diarrhea and vomiting at the Primary Health Centre, Tudun-Wada being the designated temporary treatment and rehydration centre for cholera in Gombe Local Government.
He said; “With the threshold of confirmed cases reached, I hereby declare an outbreak of cholera in Shamaki, Bolari-East and Herwagana wards of Gombe Local Government Area.
Dahiru said that the State Ministry of Health has responded to 14 clusters of Gastroenteritis which are confirmed to be cholera in Balanga, Yamaltu-deba, Dukku, Akko and Gombe Local Government Areas, adding that due to the prompt public health actions, these clusters were mitigated and did not reach the threshold to be declared as cholera outbreaks.
The Health Commissioner explained that Cholera is characterized by severe diarrhea and vomiting, and can be rapidly fatal if prompt and urgent actions are not taken toward management of cases and effective infection prevention control.
Dahiru further said; “I have activated a multi-sectoral Incident Management System for a prompt and coordinated response to the outbreak.
“I will like to remind the general public that cholera can be prevented by use of clean water, consumption of hygienically prepared meals, particularly uncooked food.
“Personal hygiene and environmental sanitation are also proven preventive measures,” he advised.
