Cholera Death Toll Now 60 In Abuja, Others — FCTA

The Federal Capital Territory Administration has intensified
community sensitisation on cholera and severe diarrhoea diseases
outbreak, as the death toll rises from 54 to 60.

The FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, made the disclosure
at the continuation of sensitisation on cholera and other acute
diarrhoea diseases in Pyakasa and Gwagwa communities on Thursday in
Abuja.

Aliyu indicated that suspected cases of cholera in the territory
rose from 604 to 698 within 72 hours.

Represented by Dr Iwot Ndaeyo, the acting Executive Secretary of
FCT Primary Health Care Board, the minister said that Abaji Area
Council also recorded three suspected cases with no death.

She said that “Abuja Municipal Area Council recorded 281
suspected cases with 22 deaths and Bwari Area Council recorded 134
suspected cases with 22 deaths.

“In Gwagwalada Area Council, 220 suspected cases with nine
deaths were recorded, Kuje Area Council had 23 suspected cases with
four deaths and Kwali Area Council recorded 37 suspected cases with
three deaths.”

Aliyu described the trend as “unacceptable in the FCT”, adding
that “the administration would not fold its hands and watch
residents die helplessly over preventable diseases.

“We must take every necessary step to curb the further
spread.”

She urged FCT residents and critical stakeholders to publicise
the message of cholera prevention, proper sanitation with the
practice of hand hygiene in their respective communities.

Earlier, the Chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council, Alhaji
Abdullahi Candido, affirmed the council’s commitment to forestall
the continuous spread of the disease to adjoining and other
communities.

He said the Primary Health Care Department of the council had
embarked on sensitisation to
the four chiefdoms in AMAC to enlighten the traditional rulers and
their councils about the cholera outbreak and preventive
measures.

He added that “on our part as an area council, we swung into
action immediately we received the news of the outbreak and its
confirmation in June.

“We quickly mobilised our health personnel in our primary
healthcare facilities for prompt responses.

“Following the recommendations from the outbreak report, we
provided funds for a quick purchase of drugs, infusions and other
treatment materials and consumables, in addition to the ones we
received from the FCT Public Health Department.”

Candido noted that “the Disease Control Unit of our Primary
Health Care Department through Disease Surveillance Notification
Officers had been working tirelessly in different communities of
the council, including the hard-to-reach fields.

“This will enable the officers to trace and report cases at the
primary healthcare facilities for free treatment.”

He, therefore, commended the professional competence, commitment
and zeal of the council’s health workers and the Health and Human
Services Secretariat of the FCTA in combating the life-threatening
disease. (NAN)

The Federal Capital Territory Administration has intensified
community sensitisation on cholera and severe diarrhoea diseases
outbreak, as the death toll rises from 54 to 60.

The FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, made the disclosure
at the continuation of sensitisation on cholera and other acute
diarrhoea diseases in Pyakasa and Gwagwa communities on Thursday in
Abuja.

Aliyu indicated that suspected cases of cholera in the territory
rose from 604 to 698 within 72 hours.

Represented by Dr Iwot Ndaeyo, the acting Executive Secretary of
FCT Primary Health Care Board, the minister said that Abaji Area
Council also recorded three suspected cases with no death.

She said that “Abuja Municipal Area Council recorded 281
suspected cases with 22 deaths and Bwari Area Council recorded 134
suspected cases with 22 deaths.

“In Gwagwalada Area Council, 220 suspected cases with nine
deaths were recorded, Kuje Area Council had 23 suspected cases with
four deaths and Kwali Area Council recorded 37 suspected cases with
three deaths.”

Aliyu described the trend as “unacceptable in the FCT”, adding
that “the administration would not fold its hands and watch
residents die helplessly over preventable diseases.

“We must take every necessary step to curb the further
spread.”

She urged FCT residents and critical stakeholders to publicise
the message of cholera prevention, proper sanitation with the
practice of hand hygiene in their respective communities.

Earlier, the Chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council, Alhaji
Abdullahi Candido, affirmed the council’s commitment to forestall
the continuous spread of the disease to adjoining and other
communities.

He said the Primary Health Care Department of the council had
embarked on sensitisation to
the four chiefdoms in AMAC to enlighten the traditional rulers and
their councils about the cholera outbreak and preventive
measures.

He added that “on our part as an area council, we swung into
action immediately we received the news of the outbreak and its
confirmation in June.

“We quickly mobilised our health personnel in our primary
healthcare facilities for prompt responses.

“Following the recommendations from the outbreak report, we
provided funds for a quick purchase of drugs, infusions and other
treatment materials and consumables, in addition to the ones we
received from the FCT Public Health Department.”

Candido noted that “the Disease Control Unit of our Primary
Health Care Department through Disease Surveillance Notification
Officers had been working tirelessly in different communities of
the council, including the hard-to-reach fields.

“This will enable the officers to trace and report cases at the
primary healthcare facilities for free treatment.”

He, therefore, commended the professional competence, commitment
and zeal of the council’s health workers and the Health and Human
Services Secretariat of the FCTA in combating the life-threatening
disease. (NAN)