Despite reports that over three hundred and twenty seven patients have been discharged from various health facilities across the State, Niger State is still recording new cases of the cholera disease, with 27 patients currently on admission across four local government areas.
Confirming the new cases when the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) delivered another round of cholera response supplies, the Deputy State Disease Surveillance Officer, Uriah Mahmudu said the new cases are in Chanchaga, Shiroro, Munya and Wushishi local government areas of the state.
According to him, 10 patients are on admission at the CTC in Kuta in Shiroro Local Government Area, 8 in Wushishi, 7 in Chanchaga, and 2 in Kabula in Munya local government.
While assuring that the latest supplies from UNICEF would be judiciously used, Mahmudu said measures would be put in place to ensure patients receive treatment and go home with hygiene packages.
He also assured that communities with suspected or confirmed cases will be given the donated items to prevent further spread.
Presenting the items on behalf of UNICEF, the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Specialist at the Kaduna Field office, Theresa Pamma, who led the team, described the intervention as crucial considering the fact that the state continues to record fresh cases.
While confirming that at least seven patients were currently on admission at one of the treatment facilities, with four already confirmed positive for cholera, Pamma warned that Niger state’s 46 per cent open defecation rate and the consumption of unsafe water remains the major driver of cholera.
The donated items presented by the WASH Specialist to the Niger State Ministry of Health include – basic water and sanitation kits, drugs, cholera treatment kits, water purification tablets, and community hygiene materials.
UNICEF had earlier donated community and periphery AWD kits, Cholera kits, 40 cholera beds, ringers lactate, normal saline with giving sets, antibiotics, scrubs, disposal gowns, heavy duty and surgical hand gloves as well as boots.
Other items were, water purification tabs, chlorine solutions, calcium hypochlorite, water testing and stool testing RDTs
News Edited by Oni Kayode Philips