The Katsina state government has reported an outbreak of cholera in the state, with 110 suspected cases identified so far, saying that two cases have been confirmed in the Kusada Local Government Area.
Kabir Suleiman, the Incidence Manager and Director of Epidemiology at the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, disclosed these figures during a press briefing held at the agency’s emergency operations centre.
Suleiman also announced that the state government has initiated plans to construct approximately 102 health facilities across various local government areas (LGAs).
He also highlighted ongoing efforts to implement other interventions aimed at addressing the outbreak, including improvements in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities, solar-powered installations, and the rehabilitation of boreholes in several LGAs.
These measures are part of the government’s strategy to contain the spread of cholera and improve healthcare infrastructure in the state.
He said: “The state government has also designated 34 comprehensive Health Centers with Cholera treatment units and centres for admission of Cholera cases.”
‘’Global Taskforce for Cholera Control shows that Katsina has 10 of its LGAs that are termed high risk, with Funtua, Jibia and Batsari LGAs topping the list.”
“We have also commenced deployment of commodities to the 34 LGAs of the state because Katsina is one of the states termed as high risk for Cholera based on the report of the global task force for Cholera control.
“We also have Oral Rehydration Points. We maintained a very sensitive surveillance system where we have regular reporting in those areas to manage the situation’’.
“For now, we don’t have an outbreak of Cholera but the state is fully prepared, basically we can coordinate any outbreak that affects the state at any point in time’’.
“We have all the necessary gadgets needed from the LGA to the state level to respond to these outbreaks’’
“Cholera is a very severe illness which is detected with acute diarrhoea commonly associated with a lot of complications. Cholera is caused by bacteria’’.
The Nation recalled that Katsina is one of the most populous states in Nigeria with over nine million population cut across 34 LGAs and 361 wards, amongst which includes 21 LGAs that were security compromised.
SOURCE: The Nation