September 23, (THEWILL) – The Borno State Government said it has recorded 40 suspected cases of cholera in the state, just as it confirmed two new cases of the disease in one of the camps housing people displaced by the recent flood in Maiduguri.
The State Commissioner of Health, Prof. Baba Mallam Gana, disclosed this on Monday, in Maiduguri while flagging off a campaign on oral cholera, measles vaccination and vitamin A supplementation.
According to him, the two confirmed cases were recorded following the recent flood that devastated 70 percent of the Maiduguri metropolis.
He said there were also 200 cases of cholera recorded between January and August 2024 in Adamawa, Bauchi and Yobe states.
Speaking on the immunization of children, the Commissioner noted that their vaccination against cholera and measles is critical in saving lives to secure their future.
According to him, the immunization exercises are to be replicated in the 31 internally displaced person (IDP) camps in the state.
Consequently, he added that the State Government has established two hospitals for children in Maiduguri. Gana, therefore, urged residents of the state to take personal hygiene seriously, as the flood waters continue to recede into Rivers Yedzaram and Ngadda.
Speaking, the UNICEF Chief of Maiduguri Field Office, Christina Maya-Alfirev, commended Governor Babagana Zulum for his swift response in mitigating the impact of the flood disaster.
“We are all here today in recognition that potential disease outbreaks following a flood of the magnitude Borno has experienced can be devastating with the possibility of causing even more harm than the flood itself.
“We came together with a shared purpose to safeguard the health and well-being of our communities through vital vaccination and supplementation initiatives,” she said.
Maya-Alfirev emphasised the importance of these measures in securing the futures of children, including the promotion of public health in communities.
“Cholera is a severe diarrhoea disease that can lead to death within hours if left untreated,” she warned. Besides cholera, she noted that measles is a highly contagious disease that can cause serious health complications, including pneumonia.
Maya-Alfirev declared that vaccination is the most powerful tool in combating these diseases, saying communities with low vaccination coverage have devastating effects of measles outbreaks.
“Let us unite to ensure that every child is immunized by building a shield of immunity that will prevent outbreaks and save lives,” she added.
I am Ladi Dapson, a general writer with thewill. I cover Borno and Yobe states respectively.
I based Maiduguri, Borno State Capital.
I can be reached via [email protected].
Very high and kind regards!
