320 cholera patients recover as Niger, UNICEF contain outbreak

At least 320 patients have been discharged from cholera treatment centres in Niger State, after the outbreak of the disease killed 14 persons across six local government areas.

The government made this known on Wednesday, adding that the pandemic had been put under control.

The Commissioner for Primary Health Care, Ibrahim Dangana, who spoke during a Radio Niger live programme monitored on Wednesday, said less than 10 persons were currently on admission across the state.

The commissioner also said water treatment kits had been provided by the government and the United Nations Children’s Fund to help over 14,000 households curb the disease.

He further disclosed that after the cholera outbreak, the state activated the Emergency Operation Centres and Disease Surveillance Systems in the 274 wards and communities across the state.

“We recorded 14 deaths so far, and out of the 327 patients hospitalised, as we speak, we have discharged virtually all of them and have less than 10 still on admission for cholera across the state.

“We identified isolation centres, and similarly, we have what we call Cholera Treatment Units in all the 25 LGs across the state, and these really helped us in curbing the spread.

The ministry, with support from various MDAs and partners like UNICEF, had been very active. I can tell you that we are winning the battle against cholera,” he said.

Dangana added that the ministry had doubled the level of sensitisation by reaching out to over 16,000 school children, going to markets, religious and traditional institutions to create awareness.

Health Specialist and UNICEF Kaduna Field Office coordinator, Idris Baba, said supplies made so far were enough to treat all affected persons.

“The supplies made so far are enough to treat all cases currently identified and admitted in the state.

“Some of the items are Community and periphery AWD kits, cholera kits, 40 cholera beds, ringers, lactate and normal saline sets.

“Others are antibiotics, scrubs, disposal gowns, heavy-duty and surgical hand gloves, boots, water purification tabs, chlorine solutions, calcium hypochlorite, water testing and stool testing RDTs,” he said.

Cupped from Punch.