Niger opens isolation centres as cholera kills 13

At least 13 people have died from the cholera outbreak in six local government areas in Niger State.

Also, 236 people have been hospitalised in the affected places.

The state government, expressing worry over the development, opened an isolation centre at the old wing of the late Senator Idris Ibrahim Kuta Primary Healthcare Centre along Old Airport Road, Minna.

The government also set up treatment and isolation centres in each of the affected local government areas to stop the spread

We learnt that the outbreak was first reported on Sunday in Shiroro Local Government Area and four other LGs, where the water-borne disease was said to have claimed victims as of Wednesday.

A healthcare official who pleaded anonymity said that the worst hit local governments were Chanchaga, Bosso, Shiroro, Magama, Bida and Munya.

The official noted that over 239 people had been afflicted by the disease and were currently receiving medical attention across several primary healthcare centres across the affected councils

The Commissioner of Primary Healthcare, Ibrahim Dangana, who confirmed the outbreak, said the government had swung into action by setting up a multi-sectoral approach to halt the epidemic in the six local government areas.

“We have set up treatment and isolation centres to mitigate the epidemic, and we are also embarking on aggressive sensitisation exercises.

“The campaign is now targeting religious bodies like the Christian Association of Nigeria and Islamic bodies and the entire eight emirates of the state,” he said.

The commissioner commended Governor Mohammed Bago for his commitment and all the donor agencies for coming to the aid of the state.

The Director of Public Health in the Ministry of Tertiary Healthcare, Ibrahim Idris, said Chanchaga, Bosso and Shiroro local government areas were the worst hit councils.