The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, has said out of 319 reported cases of cholera outbreak in Borno State, 20 persons have been killed.
The Centre stated this in a statement on Tuesday, adding that six areas are currently affected in the state, with Muna Garage Internally Displaced Persons Camp on the fringes of the state capital, Maiduguri, as the most affected.
The statement signed by National Coordinator and Chief Executive of the NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, revealed that on August 16, 2017, the NCDC was informed of a possible outbreak of cholera in a camp for IDPs in Borno State.
This was reportedly investigated by the Borno State Ministry of Health, the World Health Organisation, WHO and some other agencies, confirming a cholera outbreak.
The statement reads in part: “The Federal Ministry of Health through its agencies – NCDC and the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, is working closely with WHO, Medecins Sans Frontieres (popularly called Doctors without Borders), United Nations Children’s Fund and other humanitarian agencies in Borno, to support the state government in curtailing the spread of the outbreak.
“Public health measures that have been initiated include the establishment of a cholera treatment centre in the affected camps and surrounding areas, strengthening access to water, sanitation and hygiene. Partners are working collaboratively to plan a cholera vaccination campaign. Risk communications activities, using both conventional media and door-to-door enlightenment have been reinforced.”
