Thirteen people have died from a cholera outbreak in six local government areas in Niger State, and 236 people have also been hospitalised in the affected places.
Online learnt that the outbreak was first reported on Sunday in Shiroro Local Government Area, as well as in four other LGAs, where the waterborne disease was said to have claimed the lives of victims as of Wednesday.
A healthcare official who spoke on condition of anonymity disclosed that the worst-hit local government areas include Chanchaga, Bosso, Shiroro, Magama, Bida and Munya Local Government councils.
The health official noted that over 239 people have been afflicted by the disease and are currently receiving medical attention across several primary healthcare centres across the affected councils.
The state government, which expressed concern over the development when contacted, disclosed that the state has opened an isolation centre at the old wing of the late Senator Idris Ibrahim Kuta Primary Healthcare Centre along Old Airport Road, Minna.
The state Commissioner for Primary Healthcare, Ibrahim Dangana, who confirmed the outbreak, said the state government has swung into action by setting up a multi-sectoral approach to halt the epidemic in the six local government areas.
The commissioner stated that treatment and isolation centres had been established in each of the affected local government areas with the aim of containing the spread.
We have set up treatment and isolation centres to mitigate the epidemic, and are also embarking on aggressive sensitisation exercises.
“The campaign is now targeting religious bodies like CAN and Islamic bodies and the entire eight emirates of the state,” he said.
The commissioner commended Governor Mohammed Bago for his commitment and all the donor agencies for their assistance to the state.
The Director of Public Health in the Ministry of Tertiary Healthcare, Ibrahim Idris, who collaborated with the commissioner, stated that Chanchaga, Bosso, and Shiroro local government areas were the worst-hit councils.
