By Jutha Gupah, Maiduguri
The Federal and Borno State Governments have moved in machinery and emergency health personnel on Thursday to contain further spread of cholera that claimed the lives of 20 people at treatment centres of
Dala and Monguno.
Most of the people killed are from Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp of Muna on Maiduguri-Dikwa road. Fielding questions from journalists; after holding an emergency meeting with stakeholders in the health sector and humanitarian organisations in the state, the National Coordinator for Nigeria
Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, disclosed: “Cholera is a notorious difficult disease that kills; if the rights measures and treatment are not taken to save people’s lives.” He said already the disease has killed 20 persons with 2,000 treated at the cholera treatment centres of Dala, Monguno and Dikwa. He further disclosed: “This water borne disease has also spread to resettlement camps in Dikwa, Jere and Monguno Local Government Areas of Borno state.”
Ihekweazu; however noted that the response to cholera has been vigorous with the setting up of treatment centres in the three affected council areas and Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC).
His words: “The critical message we have just received, is that the Borno State government has responded vigorously to cholera outbreaks and containment.
“Cholera is a notorious difficult disease; it appears simple, but it can kill if you don’t do the right thing. Yes, we have an outbreak, but together we partner the federal and state governments; and the response has been vigorous.
“I am confident that we will get on top of this water borne disease that has already claimed the lives of many people.” On prevention, Ihekweazu said: “The key thing with cholera; is that nobody wants to die. The important thing is to prevent cases, as the prevention methods are fairly easy.”
“It is clean water. If you have clean water and if you use boiled water and good water to drink; you will not get cholera. We understand that this is a very difficult thing to do in some of the IDPs camps,”
he counseled.
