Posted by By TONY ICHEKU, Maiduguria on
Borno State Commissioner for Health, Dr (Mrs) Asabe Bashir Monday confirmed 64 deaths, and over 1,354 on danger list at various medical centres across the state as a cholera epidemic spreads.
Borno State Commissioner for Health, Dr (Mrs) Asabe Bashir Monday confirmed 64 deaths, and over 1,354 on danger list at various medical centres across the state as a cholera epidemic spreads.
Dr Asabe explained that the government has ordered for the supply of drugs that will cater for the 1,354 patients in critical conditions at various medical camps in the affected nine local government areas in the state.
At a press conference in her office Monday, Bashir confirmed 64 dead, adding that food poisoning has also struck in Bama local government area and about 13 people are currently on admission in the hospital.
She further said that government is yet to confirm the incidence of cholera as laboratory test results are being awaited.
Although, she did not disclose the worth of the drugs being ordered, she said that as a first step towards the control, houses of victims have been disinfected to make them safe for other occupants.
According to her, "health experts have since been dispatched to the affected local government areas with essential drugs and materials, working together with the health staff of the primary healthcare unit in order to control the outbreak".
"I wish to advise all and sundry that we need to take the issue of personal and environmental hygiene most seriously. This is to help in curbing diarrhea and vomiting," she added.
"As we work relentlessly to bring the situation under control, you are also to wash thoroughly any fresh fruit that you buy before eating or better still, you should cook them," the Health Commissioner counselled.
She admitted that since July this year, the ministry received cases of the ailment but adequate measures were put in place, wondering how the outbreak took them by surprise even as she said the situation has been brought under control.