Cholera Outbreak: SEMA, FMH, WHO, Confirms 9 Deaths In Parts Of Plateau By Yakubu Wuyep, Jos.
The Plateau State Government through the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Federal Ministry of Health (FMH), and the World Health Organization (WHO) have confirmed that only 9 persons died as a result of an outbreak of suspected cholera in Namu district of Qua’an-pan Local Government Area of Plateau State.
This was disclosed to newsmen in Namu on Wednesday when the Executive Secretary of SEMA, Alhaji Alhassan Barde led a delegation comprising team of experts from the Federal Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization, the Red Cross of Nigeria amongst others on a review visit to the affected area of the State.
The State epidemiologist, Dr. Raymond Juryit, revealed that contrary to reports from some media that over 30 persons have died of cholera, he authoritatively disclosed that only 9 deaths were recorded and 86 cases reported to the hospitals, most of whom have been treated and discharged and that the outbreak is under control.
Barde revealed that the Plateau State Government is doing much to tame the tide of the cholera outbreak, saying, Governor Jang has distributed relieve materials as well as medication to the over7,000 internally displaced persons(IDP) who fled from Nasarawa State as a result of violence and are taking refuge in Namu, Qua’an-Pan LGC.
He added that Jang has also inaugurated the Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) committee for prompt response to similar situations in the future.
Mrs Hanatu Dantong, chairperson of WASH who doubles as the Permanent Secretary, Plateau State Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development said the Government is making frantic efforts to provide good drinking water to the affected community and to sanitize them on keeping their environment clean.
Moses Eniefiong, a Director in the Federal ministry of Health said President Goodluck Jonathan is concerned about the lives that were lost as a result of the outbreak of cholera, and has mandated a team of medical experts from the ministry to join the Plateau State counterpart in salvaging the situation.
Eniefiong identified consumption of contaminated water, dirty environment as part of the immediate cause of the cholera, he then advised people in the community to always clean their environment and maintain a good personal hygiene.
However, Royal Times investigation reveals that most of the boreholes which serves as source of drinking water to the community are not functional and the wells or functional boreholes are dug close to toilets which leads to contamination of drinking water in the area.
As at time of filling this report three persons were admitted in the PHC clinic Namu on investigation of possible Cholera
