Niger: Cholera outbreak contained, over 320 patients discharged — Commissioner

Niger State Government has disclosed that the recent cholera outbreak in parts of the state has been brought under control, with over 320 patients discharged and free from the disease.

Speaking during a live radio programme tagged Media Chat, organised by the State Ministry of Information and Strategy and monitored by our correspondent in Minna, the state capital, the Commissioner for Primary Health Care, Dr Ibrahim Ahmed Dangana, confirmed that currently, fewer than 10 persons are on admission across the state.

The Commissioner stated further that, “Water treatment kits have been donated to help over 14,000 households to curb the epidemic disease.”

According to Dr Dangana, “We recorded 14 deaths so far; and out of the 327 patients hospitalised, as we speak, we have discharged virtually all of them and have fewer than 10 of them still on admission across the state for cholera.”

He noted that after the outbreak, the state immediately activated the State Inter-Sectoral Committee on Emergency Preparedness and Response, the Emergency Operation Centres (EOCs), and the Disease Surveillance Systems in the 274 wards and communities across the state.

“We identified isolation centres and, similarly, we have what we call Cholera Treatment Units (CTUs) in all the 25 LGAs across the state, and these have really helped us in curbing the spread,” he declared.

Dr Dangana said that, “The Ministry, with support from various MDAs and partners like the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), was very active and I can tell you that we are winning the battle against cholera.”

He stated further that the Ministry has doubled the level of sensitisation by reaching out to over 16,000 schoolchildren, and has visited markets, religious and traditional institutions to create awareness.

Also, when our correspondent spoke with the Health Specialist, UNICEF Kaduna Field Office, Dr Idris Baba, he said, “The supplies made so far are enough to treat all cases currently identified and admitted in the state.”

Accordingly, he said, “Some of the items are community and periphery AWD kits, cholera kits, 40 cholera beds, Ringer’s lactate, normal saline with giving sets.

“Others are antibiotics, scrubs, disposable gowns, heavy-duty and surgical hand gloves, boots, water purification tablets, chlorine solutions, calcium hypochlorite, water testing and stool testing RDTs,” he maintained.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hajiya Binta Mamman, said the state swung into action immediately after it was confronted with the endemic, by carrying out sensitisation efforts, and that all hands were on deck to curb the situation.

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