NIGERIA. Niger State: About 100 cases of deaths associated with cholera have been recorded across the 25 local government area councils of Niger state, from April to date.
The State Commissioner for Health and Hospital Services, Dr Mohammed Makusidi, made this known to newsmen in an interview at the ongoing training workshop for journalists by Pathfinder International in Minna, the state capital.
Makusidi however, attributed the outbreak of cholera to open defecation and indiscriminate waste disposal by the rural dwellers.
“The ministry had commenced a support visit to communities to help in reducing open defecation, adding that medicines were on ground to cure patients”, Makusidi further stated.
Governments effort
While admonishing the people of the state on the preventive measures to control the disease, Makusidi advised those infected to seek medical services from the public health services in their respective communities.
Makusidi, therefore,e, thanked Pathfinder International for the training as concerns the Family Planning and Child Spacing programmes which is noted as key in achieving universal health coverage as well as providing technical support to the state.
Challenges of fighting Cholera
Diverse social, cultural and ethno-religious factors were major challenges to decline in family planning by most people, Makusidi added.
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Makusidi added that some of the constraints are, the access road to some villages, low funds and insecurity among others.
However, “work was enhanced to address such problems”, Makusidi said.
Polio free State
When asked about Poliomyelitis, Makusidi explained that Nigeria so far has been ensured polio-free which was celebrated in the country, just as efforts are still being made by governments at all levels to maintain the tempo.
“The tension is still high. The State Government will not succumb in its battle towards Polio as the state is still in budgetary provision to ensure that it is gone completely,” Makusidi added.
