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Environment

Cholera: Group sensitises on water safety, distributes water purification materials in Ebonyi

 

Cholera: Group sensitises on water safety, distributes water purification materials in Ebonyi

By Tosin Kolade
Abuja, March 27, 2020 (NAN) The Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Emergency Working Group has distributed water purification materials to four local government areas affected by cholera in Ebonyi.

Mr Ibiyemi Olu-Daniels, WASH in Emergency team leader made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday.

Olu-Daniels said that the group also carried out sensitisation on water safety to affected communities and analysis testing to know the source of water contamination.

According to the team leader, the test results show that the water sourced from affected communities has been contaminated, especially River Ebonyi and some unprotected hand-dug wells.

NAN recalls that the outbreak of cholera in Ebonyi claimed the lives of 21 persons with 155 cases reported.

Olu-Daniels said the group also inaugurated the State WASH in Emergency Working Group to be responsible for sustaining the campaign against poor practices that exposed the people to cholera and other water related diseases within the local government areas.

“The WASH in Emergency Response Team visited Amachi Autonomous Community, Eligwu Nsigwo village in Onicha LGA and Idioke-Ndiebo Ishieke in Ebonyi LGA.

“The samples of water from boreholes, motor parks and households were taken for laboratory analysis to ascertain the source of the cholera outbreak in those affected Communities.

“The test results showed that most of them drank water from unprotected water sources and we told them to always purify the water by boiling among other methods,” he said.

He said the group would also carry out hygiene promotion in the affected communities as measure to reduce the risk of disaster.

The group comprised state ministries of water resources, health, environment, education, information, budget and planning, urban and regional development, UNICEF, WASH NGOs, SEMA, NIMET among others. (NAN)
TAK/ECN/GY
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Edited by Emmanuel Nwoye/Grace Yussuf

Environment

Group says WASH plans, budgets, coordination mandatory to end Cholera

Group says WASH plans, budgets, coordination mandatory to end Cholera

Cholera
By Tosin Kolade
Kebbi, Feb. 8, 2019 (NAN) State governments must have Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) plans and budget allocations to meet emergency needs and coordination, the WASH in Emergency Working Group says.

 

The Representative of the group, Mr Ibiyemi Olu-Daniels, made this call at a WASH in Emergency Working Group Monitoring and Assessment visit on Cholera affected sites in Kebbi.

 

He said that cholera prevalence in Nigeria could be achieved with sustained pressure and coordination to see that all stakeholders have their roles to play timely to forestall further spread.

According to him, emergency response plan and coordination will go a long way to fast track humanitarian response to improve lives of displaced persons.

 

He said that with an available budget line on WASH, it would be used to provide assistance immediately and not wait for bureaucratic delays from state governments.

 

He urged state water boards to rise up to their responsibilities by ensuring that wholesome water was being  given to the populace, saying consuming poor water and contaminated foods was a leading cause for cholera.

 

Olu-Daniels, who is the Deputy Director, WASH Response, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, noted that water boards must adhere to the Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality to promote access to potable water.

 

He stressed that state governments should key into the Partnership for Expanded Water, Sanitation and Hygiene programme of the Federal Government to ensure that through sector collaboration, all stakeholders make access to potable water and sanitation a priority.

 

Mr Williams Ngwakwe, the Society for Water and Sanitation, said that the state government needed to report Cholera cases early to enable timely response and coordinate speedy intervention.

 

He said that early report would not show the state in a bad light, but would also help to increase support for overall benefit of affected communities and society.

 

Mrs Chinyere Ambrose-Nnaji, a team member, said there that more support for host communities for IDPs was needed, saying facilities were being overstretched, especially on water and sanitation.

 

She said that state governments ought to effectively coordinate   and not rely on donor supports always.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the WASH in Emergency Working Group was established in 2012 when the country experienced serious devastating flood that affected 85milion people from 14 states.

 

The group has since remained active, especially in the North-East where IDPs exist and have responded immediately to outbreaks.

 

The group membership cuts across WASH sector players from Institutions, Development Partners, International and Local NGOs, CSOs responding to WASH issues in the North East, with UNICEF as its co-lead. (NAN)
TAK/GY
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Edited by Grace Yussuf

Environment

Zamfara agency constructs 35 boreholes in cholera affected communities

Zamfara agency constructs 35 boreholes in cholera affected communities

Boreholes
By Tosin Kolade
Zamfara, Feb. 7, 2019 (NAN) Alhaji Sani Yaro, the Programme Manager, Zamfara Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), says no fewer than 35 hand pump boreholes have been constructed in cholera affected communities in the state.

Yaro told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on sidelines of a WASH in Emergency Working Group Monitoring and Assessment visit on cholera to the state on Thursday.

He said that with support from development partners, latrines had been constructed in schools and health facilities for communities to stop open defecation practice and encourage Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) interventions.

According to him, open defecation is a major factor predisposing communities to preventable diseases and deaths, saying this became necessary to forestall further spread of cholera and other preventable diseases.

·         Cue in audio

“We also have WASH Emergency interventions with the support of donors; UNICEF and DFID, in 2018, precisely in December, we were given approval to construct 35 new hand-pump boreholes in cholera affected communities, and at the same time, 80 broken down hand pump boreholes were rehabilitated through this support, as well as five solar-motorised boreholes.

“We are establishing and training WASH committees in all these cholera affected communities, and we are implementing this project in six LGAs in the state, they are the Sanitation, Hygiene and Water in Nigeria (SHAWN) selected LGAs, namely; Birnin-Magaji, Talata Mafara, Bakura, Tsafe, Shinkafi and Maru, like last year, we have intervened in 100 schools, we provided boreholes and sanitation facilities as well as 50 health facilities.’’

·         Cue out Audio

He noted that the agency was partnering with UNICEF and the Department for International Development to see that Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Intervention was evident in the state.

He said that the agency had set up an Emergency Operations Centre in partnership with the State Emergency Management Agency to provide information and response to humanitarian needs of Internally Displaced Persons.

“We are partnering with the state Emergency Management Agency, anytime there are IDPs in the state, they quickly intimate us, we carry out hygiene promotion, we also do latrines, there are some smart toilets introduced through sanitation marketing, which are very easy to construct, in a day, you can construct up to 10 toilets.

“My state is ready to pay its counterpart funding, but we want the Federal Government to consider the state, following the state having the highest cholera cases, it will be good for donors coming through the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to consider the state in its selection, so that we will further collaborate effectively and eradicate those diseases.’’

He listed challenges of poor funds, inadequate resources to construct toilets, saying the state has trained WASH committees in the cholera affected communities, to pass the message of Nhygiene forward.

He said that rehabilitation of 80 hand pump boreholes and five boreholes had been done to help in scaling up interventions to meet the sanitation and hygiene needs of the communities.

The programme manager said that the agency had also carried out social mobilisation and awareness by triggering 105 communities on community led total sanitation for people to end open defecation practice.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the WASH in Emergency Working Group was established in 2012 when the country experienced serious devastating flood that affected 85milion people from 14 states.

The group has since remained active, especially in the North-East where IDPs exist and have responded immediately to outbreaks.

The group membership cuts across WASH sector players from Institutions, Development Partners, International and Local NGOs, CSOs responding to WASH issues in the North East, with UNICEF as its co-lead. (NAN)
TAK/GY
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Edited by Grace Yussuf

Environment

130 people die of cholera in Zamfara in 2018 – Group

 

Cholera
By Tosin Kolade
Zamfara, Feb. 6, 2019 (NAN) The Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Emergency Working Group says no fewer than 130 people died of cholera in the state in 2018, calling on Zamfara government to halt the outbreak.

 

The Team Lead of the group, Mr Baba Galadima made this known while on a Cholera Assessment and Monitoring visit to Zamfara on Wednesday.

 

Galadima said that the state needed to reduce cholera deaths by 90 per cent as it was a major public health concern.

 

According to him, a report from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control shows that no fewer than 44,201 suspected cases with more than 836 deaths have so far been reported from 204 LGAs in 20 states in 2018.

 

“Cholera continues to hit communities around our country, Zamfara state currently faces the largest cholera outbreaks with over 8,331 suspected cases and more than 130 deaths reported as at December 2018.

 

“Over 186 people have died of cholera in Katsina State since beginning of 2018, and about 100 from Sokoto State, while Kebbi State reported over 100 cases with few deaths.’’

 

He described cholera as a disease of inequity which sickens and kills only the poorest and most vulnerable people, saying “the map of cholera is essentially the same as a map of poverty.’’

 

He stressed that cholera could be controlled with a multi-sector approach, including basic water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services, and oral cholera vaccines (OCV), saying health intervention alone would not solve it.

 

Galadima noted that death from cholera was preventable with the tools Nigeria has today, stressing the goal of ending its public health impact was within reach.

 

He also called for budgetary allocation for sanitation and hygiene, adding that the Federal Government said it would not be business as usual, that states must begin to contribute.

 

Alhaji Sani Yaro, the Programme Manager, Zamfara Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), noted that the agency had set up an Emergency Operations Centre to provide information and response to humanitarian needs.

 

He listed challenges of poor funds, inadequate resources to construct toilets, saying the state had trained WASH committees in the cholera affected communities to pass the message of hygiene forward.

 

While commending UNICEF for intervention, Yaro said that 35 new boreholes had been constructed in in selected cholera communities.

 

He said that rehabilitation of 80 hand pump boreholes and five boreholes had been provided to help in scaling up interventions to meet the sanitation and hygiene needs of the communities.

 

The programme manager said that the agency had also carried out social mobilisation and awareness by triggering 105 communities on community-led total sanitation for people to end open defecation practice.

 

Yaro pledged the commitment of the state to pay its counterpart funds for sanitation and hygiene scale-up, noting that this was already being provided partly.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the WASH in Emergency Working Group was established in 2012, when the country experienced serious devastating flood that affected 85milion people from 14 states.

 

The group has since remained active, especially in the North-East where IDPs exist and have responded immediately on outbreaks.

 

The group membership cuts across WASH sector players from Institutions, Development Partners, International and Local NGOs, CSOs responding to WASH issues in the North East, with UNICEF as its co-lead. (NAN)
TAK/GY
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Edited by Grace Yussuf

Environment

Groups says political will needed for cholera prevention, control

Cholera
By Tosin Kolade
Sokoto, Feb. 4, 2019 (NAN) The Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Emergency Working Group on Monday called for political will and strengthened collaboration from all stakeholders to reduce outbreak of cholera in the country.

 

Mr Baba Galadima, Team Leader of the Group, while on a Cholera Assessment and Monitoring visit to Sokoto, said that it was a matter for regret that no fewer than 20 states recorded cholera cases and deaths in the last three years.

 

According to him, a report from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control shows no fewer than 44,201 suspected cases with more than 836 deaths have so far been reported from 204 LGAs in 20 states.

 

The states are Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Borno, Ebonyi, FCT, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Yobe, Zamfara, Kwara and Jigawa in the year 2018.

 

Others are Bauchi, Zamfara, Katsina, Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Kano and Sokoto, recording the highest number of cases of 9405, 8331, 7400, 7620, 2748, 1905, 2275 and 1609 respectively.

 

He said that Nigeria “is highly endemic for cholera with cases being reported perennially,`’ saying that ín spite of considerable efforts invested in controlling the disease, the country continued to record high incidence of cases in recent times.

 

He said that such cases were rampant in the North West, North East and the North Central states, stressing that this had prompted the call for a revision of strategies and the shift to a multi-sectoral and long term planning and interventions.

 

“There is an increasing global support and supply of Oral Cholera Vaccine (OCV), now is the time to accelerate sustainable action against cholera elimination in our communities.

 

“Ending cholera is not only an incredible opportunity; it is a moral obligation and a critical step toward achieving the Sustainable Development goals.’’

 

Galadima said that there was the need for Nigeria to implement evidence-based cholera control and elimination plans to reduce cholera deaths by 90 per cent and as a threat to public health by 2030.

 

He said that for an effective cholera prevention and control, there was need to implement integrated and comprehensive approaches that involved activities both inside and outside of the health sector.

 

“Such approaches involves enhanced epidemiological and laboratory surveillance to identify endemic areas and detect, confirm, and quickly respond to outbreaks.

 

“Universal use of safe water and basic sanitation, community engagement for behavioural changes and improved hygiene practices.’’

 

He said that quick access to treatment Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) would successfully treat most cases, and protect persons with access to safe and effective OCV.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the WASH in Emergency Working Group was established in 2012 when the country experienced devastating flood that affected 85milion people from 14 states.

 

The group has since remained active, especially in the North-East where IDPs exist and have responded immediately on outbreaks.

 

The group membership cuts across WASH sector players from Institutions, Development Partners, International and Local NGOs, CSOs responding to WASH issues in the North East with UNICEF as its co-lead. (NAN)
TAK/GY
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Edited by Grace Yussuf

 

Environment

Group inaugurates Cholera Response, Emergency plan

By Tosin Kolade
Plan
Sokoto, Feb. 4, 2019 (NAN) The Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Emergency Working Group has inaugurated the Sokoto chapter to coordinate response plan to reduce  cholera outbreak and other preventable diseases in emergency situation.

 

At the event in Sokoto on Monday, Team Leader, Mr Baba Galadima, said this became necessary following delay of states to key into the National Cholera Prevention, Preparedness and Control and Response Plan.

 

According to him, the implementation of the group will help emergency response plan toward reducing preventable diseases and deaths as well as meet the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

 

“One of the emergencies that we have been battling with is the outbreak of cholera and I know that this state had very high number of outbreak in 2018.

 

“We went round the state last year in partnership with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, and we saw the issues, during the council meeting, we presented a paper and it shows that many states have refused to consider WASH in emergency.

 

“If we work according to plan, there would be minimal outbreak of cholera; the target is that we want to completely eliminate cholera by 2030 globally.”

 

Galadima said that Nigeria has keyed into the Open Defecation Free target by 2025, saying with concerted efforts and stakeholders’ collaboration, this would be attained.

 

He said that budgetary allocation was necessary for the WASH sector, stressing that it was a matter for regret that a large number of persons having bouts of cholera were the disadvantaged poor.

 

He stressed the need for behavior change and awareness creation on cholera, calling for deliberate coordination from all key actors toward ending cholera cases in the country.

 

“It is now believed that we cannot eliminate cholera in the country without intervention of WASH.’’

 

The Deputy Director, WASH Response with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Mr Ibiyemi Olu-Daniel, said that the aim of the visit was to assess the WASH needs of the state and reduce outbreak of water-borne diseases.

 

He said that other emergencies such as floods and insurgencies, were critical and ought to be assessed to avoid loss of lives and livelihood, saying the state was known to suffer cholera and flood yearly.

 

“As the rainy season is come closer now, we must begin to see what need to be done to prepare for possible cases with this team that has been inaugurated, we hope that they give the needed push to prevent an outbreak.

 

“As our contingency plan, we need to focus on the needs of displaced people, in terms of water, sanitation and hygiene, when those things are out in place, cholera will be eliminated.’’

 

The Commissioner for Water Resources, Alhaji Umar Bature, while welcoming the team, noted that the state government had prioritised hygiene promotion, saying this was evident with policies on WASH interventions.

 

He said the state has two Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps which were fallout from border communities with Zamfara, saying the state had sought support from the Refugee Commission to provide humanitarian assistance.

 

“Our main problem is banditry and kidnapping, but we have been working to curtail it, as a lead ministry, we will streamline these activities in consultation with the working group from the ministry.’’

 

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Ali Inname, said the state had constituted a technical working group and incident manager for cholera to curtail and give emergency preparedness when needed.

 

Inname said that although outbreak of cholera was curtailed, polio was still an issue in some areas in Sokoto North and South, saying with more intervention, this would also be curtailed.  (NAN)
TAK/GY
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Edited by Grace Yussuf

 

 

 

Environment

Cholera: NGO urges FG to treat water sources in affected communities

Cholera
By Tosin Kolade
Abuja, Oct. 17, 2018 (NAN) Zenith Water Project has urged the Federal Government to ensure the treatment of water sources in communities affected by cholera outbreaks to improve water quality and curb spread of the disease.

 

Mr Nicholas Igwe, the Managing Director of the non-governmental organisation, made the call on Wednesday in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

 

He stressed that the government should strive to curb the spread of cholera by treating the communities’ water sources, while preventing new outbreaks of the disease.

 

He, however, noted that the provision of water was not enough in efforts to eradicate cholera, adding that the focus of water supply programmes should also be on ensuring water quality and providing water treatment plants.

 

“We lack quality water, this challenge is the same everywhere; so, we have to ensure that we provide adequate water treatment systems.

 

“We, as an NGO, often examine the water quality of an area and then, we provide water systems that will deal with the water challenges facing that particular the area,’’ he said.

 

Igwe described the whole idea of spending a lot of money on the management of cholera outbreaks, while the residents of affected communities still patronised the same water sources, as worrisome.

 

He underscored the need to sensitise the people to the dangers of drinking unsafe water, saying that the government should also ensure the provision of quality water for the citizens.

 

“It is only clean and quality water that sustains life; the fact that some water is clear does not necessarily mean that the water is clean,’’ he said.

 

The managing director said that one of the primary roles of Zenith Water Project was to execute sustainable water projects aimed at treating the water sources of the rural areas affected by cholera outbreaks.

 

He added that the NGO would also ensure the provision of safe water in the neighbourhoods, while educating the residents on the health implications of drinking unclean water.

 

“Although Zenith Water Project is a private sector company, the group has been working with the government and other agencies in promoting water quality across the country,’’ he said.

 

Igwe noted that his organisation, a member of the Sanitation Water for All (SWA), had been working with other stakeholders under the auspices of UNICEF, to achieve a synergy among all partners involved in water and sanitation programmes.

 

“The purpose of Zenith Water Project working together with other stakeholders is to tackle the challenges that may crop up from the people’s lack of access to water and sanitation facilities,’’ he said.

 

Igwe urged other private sector organisations to work closely with the three tiers of government in efforts to sensitise Nigerians to the importance of good sanitation.

 

He noted that water-borne diseases and infections associated with poor sanitation were the leading causes of death the world over.

 

He added that these infections had larger consequences on the socio-economic growth of countries.

 

“It is important for the private sector organisations to begin to work closely with the various levels of government to ensure attainment of Goal Six of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),’’ he said.

 

NAN reports that Goal Six of the SDGs calls for the provision of clean water and sanitation for all people. (NAN)
TAK/VOE/OOK
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Edited by Vivian Emoni and Dayo Komolafe

Environment

Group urges continuous advocacy to halt cholera prevalence in Bauchi

Group urges continuous advocacy to halt cholera prevalence in Bauchi

Advocacy
By Tosin Kolade
Abuja, Aug. 17, 2018 (NAN) The Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Emergency Working Group on Friday expressed concern over recurring cases of cholera in Bauchi, calling for continuous advocacy and interventions.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the group works in providing humanitarian assistance and interventions in emergency situation, especially in the North-East.

At the meeting with stakeholders in Abuja, the group expressed worry that in spite of interventions and intermittent Oral Cholera vaccinations (OCV), cholera cases were still re-occurring.

Mr Sebastian Yennan, Incidence Manager, Cholera, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), stressed the need for Bauchi state government to take ownership of protecting its water sources from contamination.

He said the centre was working to encourage states to take steps at scaling up access to water and sanitation, saying although the situation has been stabilised, more concerted efforts were needed to avoid preventable deaths.

Quoting the statistics from the WASH Monitoring Dashboard, Mr Ibiyemi Olu-Daniels, a representative from the Ministry of Water Resources, said although cholera situation in Bauchi was stabilised, the State taskforce reported 9,662 cases and 28 deaths as at July 15.

He said no fewer than eight local government areas were affected, making the state a critical hotspot, with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 0.3 per cent.

“Endemic causes must be addressed by the Government; the old and defected water pipes of the urban water system of Bauchi town, which are poorly managed, pass through garbage dumping sites, gutters and depressions where sewage is dumped.

“These, coupled with water rationing system results in frequent contamination of water supplies, are the main causes of the crisis in Bauchi.’’

The official said since the outbreak, interventions coordinated by the State Ministry of Health, with support from development partners was able to carry out OCV in 15 affected wards in Bauchi LGA and 3 communities in Ganjuwa and Tafawa Balewa LGAs.

Mr Baba Galadima, WASH Response and Collaboration, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, said the ministry has begun processes to test water quality in its six laboratories across the six geo-political zones, saying this would go a long way to promote water quality.

Baba added that the interventions also includes carrying out mini-filtration of existing water schemes through chlorination for the overall goal of promoting access to safe water sources and improved livelihood.

In a similar vein, stakeholders at the event worried about the deficit in meeting the funding requirement for the humanitarian response plan, which still stood at $48.7million.

It would be recalled that 80 per cent of the funds, which stood at $38.92 million, was still not met, with the provision of $9.81 million from the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian activities (OCHA).

The overall target was to reach 2,886,351 persons, who are in need of WASH humanitarian assistance.

The stakeholders urged partners to take measures to ensure that water facilities and latrines are flood prone, by constructing raised latrines on elevated grounds and protection of hand pump boreholes for long -term sustainability. (NAN)
TAK/COF/AFA
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Edited by Fadare Oluyinka/Felix Ajide

Health

Cholera: FCTA caution residents against open defecation

Cholera: FCTA caution residents against open defecation
By Mustapha Sumaila
Cholera
Abuja, Aug. 16, 2018 (NAN) The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Thursday warned residents in the territory to desist from open defecation to prevent cholera.
Dr Humphrey Okoroukwu, the Director, Public Health, Health and Human Services Secretariat, FCTA, gave the warning during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
NAN reports that seven deaths have so far been recorded from cholera outbreak in four communities of Sauka, Mpape, Kubwa village and Ushafa.
Okoroukwu explained that open defecation was one of the causes that predispose some residents to cholera which affected some communities in the territory.
“People should stop defecating in open places, especially around the river banks to prevent infectious diseases like cholera.
“Residents are advised to have toilets in their homes and those who cannot afford Water Closet should endeavour to have pit latrines to avoid outbreak of cholera,” he said.
The director said that cholera outbreak was common during the rainy season, and stressed the need for residents to take necessary precautions.
He said that cholera outbreak occurred mainly in rural communities that had no access to potable water.
Okoroukwu also enjoined FCT residents to treat their drinkable water and ensure that it was free of any contamination.
He advised residents to take sick persons with symptoms of cholera immediately to nearby healthcare facility or hospital, pointing out that timeliness is of essence. (NAN)
MS/OFN
Edited by Felix Nwadioha/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Cholera: FCTA activates emergency operation centre

Cholera: FCTA activates emergency operation centre
By Mustapha Sumaila
Centre
Abuja, Aug. 13, 2018 (NAN) The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has activated an Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) to ensure effective management of cholera outbreak in some communities in the territory.
Dr Humphrey Okoroukwu, the Director, Public Health, Health and Human Services Secretariat, FCTA, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.
NAN reports that seven deaths have so far been recorded from cholera outbreak in different communities of the FCT.
The disease had claimed lives at Sauka, Mpape, Kubwa and Ushafa communities.
Okoroukwu explained that the activated EOC would be working on four pillars of surveillance, case management, laboratory and health promotion, education and community mobilisation.
According to him, officers from his department and those of area councils will work to ensure a robust surveillance to check the spread of the disease.
He said that there would henceforth be effective and more efficient laboratory system to hasten laboratory results.
The director noted that health education and promotion would be enhanced to sensitise residents in every nook and cranny of the territory.
He said that though only one case had so far been confirmed positive to cholera from laboratory test carried out, but the cases fit in into the definition cases of cholera. (NAN)
MS/JTJ/MST
Edited by Julius Toba Jegede/Muhammad Suleiman Tola