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Katsina State government has confirmed two cases of cholera in Kusada Local Council, with 118 others currently under medical investigation.
The confirmation was made at a press conference by Manager and Director of Epidemiology, State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Kabir Suleiman.
Suleiman said following the development, the agency’s incident management system was activated to prevent spread of the disease and other vaccine-preventable outbreaks in the state.
He added that the state government had also taken measures to manage the outbreak, including construction of 102 health facilities across the 34 council areas, by improving Wash, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities and designating 34 comprehensive health centres with treatment units.
The Global Taskforce for Cholera Control had earlier identified Katsina as a high-risk state, especially in 10 councils.
He said the state government had deployed facilities to all 34 councils and established oral rehydration points to manage the situation.
He assured that the state is fully prepared to coordinate any outbreak, with a sensitive surveillance system to detect cases of priority diseases like cholera.
Suleiman said the state has a normal routine surveillance system working round the clock to detect cases.
He also revealed that the agency has trained more than 3,000 Volunteer Community Mobilisers (VCMs) to sensitise women to personal hygiene and use of sanitised water and eating well-cooked food.
He added that risk communication jingles are also being aired in various media outlets to educate the public on the disease.
In the meantime, a Professor of Biochemistry, Ugbenyen Anthony Moses, yesterday, stressed the urgent need to properly provide adequate treatment for water and ensure disinfection processes before domestic use to reduce risk of heavy metal toxicities and water-borne diseases.
He made the call while delivering the 16th inaugural lecture series of Edo State University Uzairue, with the topic, “Biopolymers as Eco-friendly Alternative in Water/ Wastewater Purification: A Public Health Concern.”
According to him, water is a very important natural resource needed for the survival of living organisms.
He noted that water is an instrument for production of food and economic improvement, prone to different contaminant/ pollution that makes it difficult for use without treatment.
The don urged government at all levels to intensify effort in setting up a monitoring and evaluation body to oversee water management in the country, particularly in ensuring the periodic evaluation of natural waters, as well as prevent excessive human anthropogenic activities that might result in contamination of waters.
In his remarks, the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dawood Omolumen Egbefo, said the university, since its inception, has been dedicated to fostering academic excellence, consistently aligning with its vision of becoming a centre of excellence in quality teaching, research, innovation and community development.
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