By Stephen Adeleye
Kogi State Government, through the Ministry of Health, on Wednesday confirmed the outbreak of diarrhoea and vomiting suspected to be cholera in five local government areas of the state.
This was disclosed in a statement made available to journalists in Lokoja by the State’s Epidemiologist, Dr Austin Ojotule, on behalf of the Kogi State Commissioner for Health, Dr Saka Haruna Audu.
According to him, seven communities were affected in five LGAs of Kogi, Bassa, Lokoja, Ankpa and Kabba Bunu, have been affected between February and August, 2021, with eight deaths from three communities from three of the five LGAs.
“It has become very important for us as a Ministry to brief the press on the outbreak of diarhoea and vomiting suspected to be cholera in some Local Government Areas of the State in recent time.
“So far local governments namely, Kogi, Bassa, Lokoja, Ankpa and Kabba Bunu have been affected between February and August, 2021.
“Seven communities were affected in the aforementioned LGAs with 129 cases.
“However, we were able to confirm cholera in three of the communities in Kogi, Lokoja and Ankpa LGAs with 66 persons affected and 8 deaths (CFR=12.12%). These are Border Communities with hard to reach terrains.
“It is important to mention at this point that most of the deaths have occurred before the reports got to the local government/state authorities. Our findings also revealed that majority of the deaths in all the outbreaks occurred at home.
“In all the cases, the State Ministry of Health has supported the outbreak response with response commodities and technical support.
“The state is working closely with the local government to avert further outbreaks by strengthening and sustaining community sensitization and mobilization.
“This is to ensure that Communities adopted health safety measures such as good personal and environmental hygiene, washing of hands with soap and water after visiting the toilet, avoid open defecation, boiling of drinking waters and proper cooking and handling of food and vegetables before eating as these measures are very key in preventing diarrhoea diseases.
“People with diarrhoea and vomiting are encouraged to visit the nearest health facility as soon as they notice symptoms,” he said.
The commissioner assured that government would continue to collaborate with critical stakeholders and partners to ensure that no single individual dies of preventable disease in the state.
He added: “We will work with relevant agencies ensure provision of portable water in communities within the state to ensure that diarrhoea disease is reduced to the barest minimum in the state.”
