Cholera outbreak: Niger records 150 positive cases — UNICEF

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Friday in Minna, Niger State, confirmed that the state has so far recorded 150 positive cholera cases.

UNICEF also disclosed that a total of 16 deaths have been recorded since the outbreak began.

Making this disclosure when she led a team on an advocacy visit to the Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umar Farouq Bahago, the Chief of the Kaduna Field Office, UNICEF, Dr. Gerida Birukila, said that “451 persons were isolated and those confirmed positive treated and discharged are 150.”

The Chief, who was represented by Health Specialist Dr. Ahmed Tsofo, also solicited the Emir’s support in curtailing various diseases ravaging the state.

According to the Chief, “we have recorded more than 451 cases of cholera infections, out of it, over 150 were confirmed positive through rapid diagnostic testing.

“So far, we have now recorded 16 deaths and we brought it to the Emir’s information. We have also updated him on the support we are providing and the collaboration between UNICEF and the state government to contain the outbreak and to prevent further spread.”

Among other issues highlighted during the courtesy visit to the monarch were polio and measles, as well as the low rate of exclusive breastfeeding in the state.

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“We came to advocate for his support in person and the support of the traditional institution over the ongoing health and public health interventions that we have been supporting in Niger.

“As you must have heard from the discussions we had with the Emir, we advocated for his support in the next coming in-between rounds activity for the polio eradication campaign; we also advocated for the ongoing cholera outbreak in the state.

“We advocated for his support also toward the introduction of the measles and rubella vaccines which is coming up in October this year,” he declared.

The UNICEF health specialist noted that these diseases could be eradicated with the collaboration of the government and traditional institutions.

In his response, the Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umar Farouq Bahago, assured UNICEF of the emirate’s support and prayed that Allah would enable them to achieve the aim of eradicating the diseases in the state.

Accordingly, he said, “we will continue to talk and work in the interest of our people. We will support your efforts and complement your activities in all the four areas of intervention.”

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