A cholera outbreak has caused the death of 10 persons in Gombe State.
Executive Secretary of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SPHCDA), Dr. Abdulrahman Shuaibu, who disclosed this on Thursday, told newsmen that the incidents occurred in Balanga, Funakaye, Gombe, Nafada, and Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Areas of the state.
He said by September 20, 2022, cholera cases had risen to 236, adding that in 2021, 2,373 cases were recorded in three outbreaks within a year.
From June 2022, the Executive Secretary said the state recorded a sporadic increase in cholera in Balanga Local Government Area, “but because of the preparedness and prompt response, it has been largely subdued without escalation.”
Dr Shuaibu attributed the recent cholera outbreak to the increased downpour which resulted in flooding being experienced in many parts of the state.
“The Ministry of Health has promptly initiated public health actions for prevention and control of cholera. As at September 20, 2022, there was an increased number of cases in the state as 236 cases have been recorded so far.
“The ministry had activated an incident management system for control of cholera at the Primary Health Emergency Centre (PHEC) in the state,” he said.
The executive secretary stated that the ministry had also established 13 cholera treatment units across the five affected LGAs for management of the recorded cases free of charge.
Shuaibu added that decontamination of affected wells and boreholes in affected communities would be carried out, “while sensitisation and distribution of water treatment tablets in all affected communities would be conducted.”
He called on residents to use clean water, prioritise the consumption of hygienically prepared meals, and urged residents to promptly report suspected cases to nearest healthcare centres.
