Port Harcourt – State governments in the South-South region have activated emergency response centres aimed at containing any eventual outbreak of cholera in their respective domains.
Government sources from Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Rivers who made the disclosure while responding to a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) survey, also said that there were no confirmed cases of cholera in the states.
They said that the states had already commenced sensitisation campaigns to educate residents on measures to mitigate the disease.
It would be recalled that cases of cholera outbreak had been reported in 96 local government areas in 30 states of the federation between Jan. 1 and June 11.
According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), no fewer than 1,141 suspected cases, 65 confirmed cases and 30 deaths from cholera have been reported during the period.
NAN reports that Cholera is an infectious bacteria disease of small intestine caused by ingestion of the bacterium vibrio cholerae, contracted from contaminated water and food.
Speaking in Akwa Ibom, the Health Commissioner, Prof. Augustine Umoh said: “for now, there is no reported case of cholera outbreak in the state”
He said that the government had already commenced a sensitisation programme in all the 31 local government areas on the essence of maintaining personal and environmental hygiene.
He urged residents of the state to adopt household water treatment schemes such as boiling, filtering and disinfection before using.
“We have to wash our hands with soap and clean water regularly, especially after using the toilet and before eating. We are also urging our people to wash fruits and other food items before eating,” he said.
Umoh said that apart from the sensitisation, the government had taken other steps to contain any eventual outbreak of the disease in the state.
“We are stocking emergency drugs such as fluid and necessary medicaments in all primary health centres across the state.
“The state government has also reactivated all emergency operations centres across the state to forestall any outbreak,” he said.
The commissioner further said that the Akwa Ibom government would continue to monitor and ensure surveillance, especially in the border communities.
Umoh urged the residents to take salt-sugar solution in case of diarrhoea and report to the nearest health centre for prompt action.
Similarly, Rivers Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh, confirmed the absence of any confirmed case of cholera across the 23 local government areas of the state.
She said that although there were no current active cases, there were reports of Acute Watery Diarrhoea a month earlier, none of the cases were currently active.
“About four weeks ago, we had about 16 suspected cases of acute watery diarrhoea in three coastal communities of Andoni LGA, with two associated deaths.
“Two samples tested positive for cholera using Rapid Diagnostic screening tool, however, these results were not confirmed by a culture test.
“At present, there are no active cases or any outbreak of cholera or acute watery diarrhoea in Rivers state,” she said.
Oreh disclosed that the state government had deployed medical supplies to areas prone to infectious diseases.
She added: “the infectious disease treatment centre at Rivers State University Hospital, which was marked for upgrade into an infectious disease institute, is now fully equipped to manage cases.
“The state government is working closely with the World Health Organisation, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, and other relevant stakeholders to safeguard the health of residents,” she added.
Oreh said that the health ministry had enhanced the skills of health professionals and initiated health awareness campaigns, promoting safe hygiene practices.
She also said that a surveillance system had been on high alert regarding potential triggers of infectious diseases.
The commissioner reiterated the state government’s commitment to providing adequate support, response, and containment of viral diseases.
Oreh advised residents to uphold good hygiene habits such as drinking clean water, eating well-cooked food, thoroughly washing fruits and vegetables before consumption, and avoiding open defecation.
In same vein, the Cross River Commissioner for Health, Dr Henry Ayuk, disclosed that there was no recent confirmation of cholera outbreak in the state.
He explained that the last record of a confirmed case of cholera in the state was in January 2024, saying, “this was effectively addressed”
According to him, the state is fully prepared for any emergency response in the current wave of nationwide cholera outbreak.
“The public health emergency response centre has been activated while the local government response teams have all been strengthened with adequate capacity, including commodities to handle any emergency.
“Similarly, as residents of the state can see, there has been a massive improvement in waste evacuation which is returning the state to its status as one of the cleanest in the nation.
“This is also a measure to fight the disease because cholera thrives with dirt which contaminates what humans consume,” he said.
Ayuk, however, advised the citizens of the state to adhere to precautionary measures by maintaining good personal hygiene, safe foods and clean water consumption, as well as avoiding crowded environments.
He appealed to residents of the state to quickly report any case of diarrhoea or stooling, vomiting or other cholera-related symptoms to the nearest health facility.
He maintained that the state government was committed to the health and well-being of its citizens at all times. (NAN)
