UNICEF, Borno fights cholera and measles with diagnostic kits
By Tada Juthan, Maiduguri
The Borno State Health Commissioner, Prof. Baba Mallam Gana, has said that 40 suspected cases of cholera were recorded with the confirmation of two this year.
According to him, the two confirmed cases were declared in the recent floods that devastated 70 percent of Maiduguri metropolis.
Gana disclosed this in Maiduguri while flagging off integrated oral cholera, measles vaccination, and vitamin A supplementation.
He said that there were also 200 cases of cholera between January and August 2024 in Adamawa, Bauchi, and Yobe states.
Reiterating the immunisation of children, the commissioner noted that their vaccination against cholera and measles was critical in saving lives to secure their future.
According to him, the immunisation exercises are also to be replicated in the 31 internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.
Consequently, he added that the state government has established two hospitals for children in Maiduguri.
Gana, therefore, urged the people to take personal hygiene seriously as the flood waters continue to recede into Rivers Yedzaram and Ngadda.
UNICEF Chief of Maiduguri Field Office, Christina Maya-Alfirev, commended Governor Babagana Zulum for his swift response in mitigating the impact of the flood disaster that befell Maiduguri.
“We’re all here today in recognition that potential disease outbreaks following a flood of the magnitude the state has experienced can be devastating,” she said, warning that there is a possibility of causing even more harm than the flood itself.
Additionally, she said that we come together with a shared purpose to safeguard the health and well-being of our communities through vital vaccination and supplementation initiatives.
The UNICEF field officer emphasised the importance of these measures in securing the futures of children, including the promotion of public health in communities.
“Cholera is a severe diarrhoeal disease that can lead to death within hours if left untreated,” she warned.
Besides cholera, she noted that measles is a highly contagious disease that can cause serious health complications, including pneumonia.
Maya-Alfirev declared that vaccination is the most powerful tool in combating this disease, as communities with low vaccination coverage have devastating effects of measles outbreaks.
“Let us unite to ensure that every child is immunised by building a shield of immunity that will prevent outbreaks and save lives,” she said.
