By Sam Kayode
Fifty-three residents of Borno state have died due to an out break of cholera which has affected the state since weekend.
As a result of this out break, at least one million residents especially the Internally displaced people (IDPs) are at the risk of dying if they continue to drink contaminated water simply because it looks clean.
Confirming the breakdown to health partners in the state today, Director of public health, Dr Goni Abba, asked them to join the state team to quickly reverse the trends of mortality across those council areas.
A breakdown of the death profile as at yesterday showed that a total of 47 new cases with three deaths reported including backlog of cases came from Jere council area.
“Upsurge from Jere 37 cases with 3 deaths, Bayo reported 3 cases with no death, Biu recorded 3 cases with no death, Dikwa reported 3 cases no death, Bama 1 case no death, Kwaya Kusar submitted none, MMC and Mafa no update for today,” he said.
Dr Goni said that the cumulative cases reported so far is 768 with 47 associated deaths.
On response to the scourge today by Stat rapid response team led by him and some partners, he said that the state public health team visited hot spots like Shokari rehabilitation centre, Muna garage IDP camp to conduct assessment of toilet facilities, sources of water and general personal and environmental hygiene of the areas.
They also conducted sensitisation of the returnees, communities affected and community leaders on the dangers of open defecation and poor personal and environmental hygiene which can contribute to the spread of Cholera.
The World Health Organization (WHO) cholera focal person he noted has provided drugs and supplies at the Shokari rehabilitation centre health facility to cushion the effect of the cholera.
Meanwhile, active case searches and case findings were conducted and 23 Cholera cases were referred to Ngarnam in Bolori II.
He assured that the state response team and partners will intensify Surveillance, in conjunction with the risk communication and WASH activities in these sensitive areas of Shokari rehabilitation centre, Muna garage IDP camp, custom house IDP camp and other hotspots in Jere LGA.
Cholera has become an annual scourge in the state capital since residents were displaced by insurgency and forced to stay in IDP camps.
Even with the closure of the camps the habit of open defecation which is a long way from going away always affects the source of water most residents use to take their bath, abolution or cooking.
The scourge has increased also because of flooding which has affected most of the capital and council areas around it.
