A cholera outbreak in Gombe State has claimed the lives of roughly 10 people, according to the state’s authorities.
The state stated: “This year, starting June 30, 2022, we have experienced sporadic cases of cholera in Balanga Council, and because of readiness and rapid response, it has been mostly tamed without escalation.” The state reported 236 cases between June and September 2022.
Dr. Habu Dahiru, the commissioner for health, revealed this to reporters yesterday.
Ten deaths have been reported in the councils of Balanga, Yemaltu-Deba, Nafada, Funakaye, and Gombe, according to a text read on his behalf by the state’s executive secretary, Dr. Abdulrahman Shuaibu of the Gombe State Primary Healthcare Development Agency.
“Cholera outbreaks in eight wards have stemmed from increasing incidences of heavy downpours and subsequent flooding in portions of the state,” he said.
As a result, the state ministry of health quickly began public health initiatives for its prevention, including: an incident management system; 13 cholera treatment units; direct house-to-house sensitization; and distribution of water treatment tablets in affected communities. These initiatives were spread across the five affected councils and included free case management.
The state also decontaminated the afflicted wells and boreholes and turned on council-wide surveillance.
Shuaibu, however, advised locals to adopt a culture of cleanliness and hygiene to stop the sickness from spreading further.
Recall that the state had three cholera fatalities last year, when there were 2,373 cases reported.
