From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The situation of recent Cholera outbreak in Nigeria has continued to worsen with the confirmation from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) that the epidemic has spread to 33 states with 63 deaths recorded in the past few weeks.
NCDC Director General, Dr. Jide Idris, disclosed the information at a press conference in Abuja, on Tuesday.
He highlighted the obvious increment in the cases compared to the previous report released by NCDC on June 24th which indicated that the epidemic was restricted to 31 states and 107 LGAs with 54 deaths.
He said that 10 states, namely, Lagos, Bayelsa, Abia, Zamfara, Bauchi, Katsina, Cross River, Ebonyi, Rivers and Delta, accounted for about 90 per cent of the cases recorded so far.
He, however, confirmed that the National Cholera Multisectoral Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) has activated and engaged some experts to provides strategic coordination, and also meets daily to provide periodic situation report for stakeholders.
“This has ensured effective mobilization, harmonization and distribution of resources to support the affected states, and they are done through the relevant thematic areas of the response that cover coordination, surveillance, case management, infection prevention and control, risk communication and community engagement, Water Sanitation and Hygiene, Vaccination, Logistics, Research, with a costed Incidence Action Plan for the response developed and being implemented.”
He was optimistic that these will help facilitate rapid communication, data analysis, decision-making, and also ensure proper
deployment of resources, strengthening surveillance and diagnostic capacity, enhance treatment of affected persons, and intensified public awareness and community engagement activities.
The NCDC boss noted that prior to the activation of EOC, the NCDC, through the National Cholera Technical Working Group had conducted assessment of cholera readiness and preparedness capacity in 22 hotspot and high-burden states, and reported the gaps identified to the States to guide their preparedness activities before the outbreak
He called on all stakeholders, notably, government agencies, subnational level actors, partners, civil society organization, healthcare professionals, community leaders, and every citizen to redouble their efforts to contain the spread and prevent further loss of lives.
He also reminded health workers of the need to always practice standard safety precaution particularly the practice of wearing gloves while handling patients or providing care to an ill patient/relative, and also intensify surveillance efforts to promptly report suspected cholera cases.
