The Gombe State Government has declared a Cholera outbreak in Gombe Local Government Area, with 48 positive cases and four deaths.
The State Commissioner For Health, Dr. Habu Dahiru, said 77 cases were reported, out of which 48 tested positive from Bolari East, Bolari West, Herwa Gana, Ajiya, Nassarawo, Dawaki, Kumbiya-Kumbiya and Pantami.
Dr. Dahiru said all the wards presented cases of gastroenteritis, but after testing samples of patients at the facility, 48 came out with Cholera.
“In Bolari, we had 15 cases, 10 tested positive. So, 10 in an area is significant and that warrants to say there is an outbreak in that ward. In Bolari West, we had 9 cases, 6 tested positive. In Herwa Gana, we had 7 cases and all 7 were positive for Virgo Choleric. In Shamaki Ward, we had 34 cases, 17 out of the 34 tested positive for Vibrio cholerae. In Nassarawa Ward, we had 3 cases and all the threes turned to be positive with one mortality. In Jekada-Fari, we had one case, but it was not positive for Vibrio cholerae. In Kumbiya-Kumbiya, we had one case of GR and it was and it was positive. In Pantami, we had one case and it was also positive for Vibrio cholerae,” Dr. Dahiru said.
He said 77 cases had been treated and discharged.
The Health Commissioner said in response to the outbreak, the Ministry activated the Multisectoral Incident Management System for prompt and coordinated response to the outbreak.
According to him, the State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya acted promptly by providing all the needed resources to combat the situation.
Precautionary Measures
Similarly, Dr. Dahiru said the recent Cholera outbreaks in Yamaltu Deba and Akko in June and July, prompted the Ministry to take precautionary measures of positioning drugs, such as IV-Fluids, in anticipation of further outbreaks, especially with the onset of rains.
According to him, run-off water went into sub wells in some communities and contaminated some areas, which has now led to the upsurge in the cases in the state.
Awareness
Dr. Dahiru, however, said the most important approach to containing the disease was through the creation of awareness among the public.
He said, “We’ve had the Risk Communication Unit. We have three pillars, Surveillance, Risk Communication, Case Management. So, Risk Management is reaching out to the community to tell the community that there is a Cholera outbreak and these are the things we do to prevent Cholera. One is, we must wash hands thoroughly when we use the toilet. We must also make sure drinking water is boiled if it is not coming from the borehole. And if it is stored in our reservoirs, it must be boiled and filtered.”
He urged the public to thoroughly wash vegetables before use, cook well before consumption, leftover foods should be discarded and the environment kept clean at all times.
Surveillance Team
The Gombe State Commissioner for Health also said a Surveillance Team had been dispatched to all the wards to look out for cases and take them to the designated health centres for the necessary treatment.
He also advised the public to give suspected cases oral therapy before taking them to the health centres.
The health Commissionr said the ministry of health was in strong collaboration with the Ministries of Water Resources and Environment to improve environmental sanitation and hygiene and to also ensure that portable water got to the communities.
Dr. Gana, however, warned Gombe residents of the alarming situation of Cholera outbreak in neighbouring communities in Bauchi State, saying any social or economic interactions with Kirfi and Alkaleri LGAs should be done with caution.
He also advised that wells should be treated with chlorine, while ward-heads should also report suspected cases to the nearest health facility.
Dr. Gana equally encouraged teachers in Quranic schools, with Children living in large clusters, to be on the watch to ensure hygiene, good water supply and hygienic food preparation and consumption.
Confidence Okwuchi
