Cholera outbreak: 300 hospitalised in Bauchi, death toll reaches 60 in FCTA

OVER 300 persons have been admitted of cholera following an outbreak of the disease in Dass Local Government Area of Bauchi State just as the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has intensified community sensitisation to cholera and severe diarrhoea diseases outbreak, as the death toll rises from 54 to 60.

In Bauchi State, the ActionAid Nigeria has urged the state government and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to declare a state of emergency over the outbreak in the state to save the residents from the disease.

As part of its fight against the disease, ActionAid has donated 1,500 kits to the Cholera Treatment Centres (CTC) in Bauchi, Ningi, Dass and Toro where children as young as six years old were seen taking the medication under mango shades due to congestion.

Director of Programmes, Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (BASPHCDA) Hajia Suwaiba Yakubu Jibrin was in Dass Local Government Area of the state on Thursday where she assessed the situation of the outbreak in the area.

She implored households to observe critical hygiene rules by ensuring that food is always prepared under hygienic conditions. Earlier, the Residence Programme Coordinator of ActionAid, Mr Anicetus Atakpu had commended the Bauchi State government for its effort so far but regretted that “there is a disconnect between agencies of government because if there is better synergy, record of infected persons and fatality will not be this high, so we advise the government to bring in more hands.”

In FCT, the Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, said suspected cases of cholera in the territory rose from 604 to 698 within 72 hours. Aliyu noted this at the continuation of sensitisation to cholera and other acute diarrhoea diseases in Pyakasa and Gwagwa communities on Thursday in Abuja.

Represented by Dr Iwot Ndaeyo, the acting Executive Secretary of FCT Primary Health Care Board, the minister said that Abaji Area Council also recorded three suspected cases with no death.

She said that “Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) recorded 281 suspected cases with 22 deaths and Bwari Area Council recorded 134 suspected cases with 22 deaths. “In Gwagwalada Area Council, 220 suspected cases with nine deaths were recorded Kuje Area Council had 23 suspected cases with four deaths and Kwali Area Council recorded 37 suspected cases with three deaths.”

(Nigerian Tribune)