By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
A thirteen member high powered committee for the control of cholera outbreak in Borno State has been inaugurated today.
Inaugurating the High Powered Committee for the Control of Cholera in his office at the Government House, The state Deputy Governor, H.E Umar Usman Kadafur draw the attention of the general public that the possible cause of cholera outbreak is by eating or drinking contaminated food or water with bacteria called Vibro Cholera or living in a dirty environment.
The Deputy Governor said to further stop the spread of the disease, the state government has directed all Rapid Response Teams (RRT) for disease surveillance and control in all the affected areas to tackle suspected cases.
Alhaji Umar Kadafur, therefore urged the general public to take precautionary measures by observing strict hygiene rules of hand washing before eating and visiting toilet as well as covering and warming of left over food before consumption.
The Deputy Governor said the State Ministry of Health has confirmed the death of 43 persons from cholera outbreak and 559 suspected cases and the affected areas are MMC, Jere, Gwoza, Kaga, Hawul, Magumeri and Damboa respectively.
Hon. Kadafur also said the members of the committee are appointed based on their individual merit, experience and personal integrity, therefore they should work hard to justify the confidence reposed on them by the governmen. He assured that government is ever ready to give all necessary support to carry out the assignment successfully.
The term of the reference of the committee according to the Deputy Governor are to determine the extent of the outbreak, the level of preparedness for the control of the disease, ascertain the cause of the disease, ensure effective collaboration with the response teams as well as to determine the needs requirements for the control of the outbreak.
Other terms of reference are to mobilize and coordinate all resources available for the control and prevention of the outbreak, to ensure the establishment of a situation room for regular updates and to activate all LGA Rapid Response Teams (RRT).
In his response on behalf of the High Powered Committee for the control of cholera, the Chairman of the Committee Professor Isa Marte Hussaini said the committee will immediately swing into action and will liaise with Ministry of Health, Environment and other relevant bodies to ensure all preventive measures are put in place.
The Chairman promised to justify the confidence reposed in them by working hard to control and prevent the further outbreak of the disease.
Meanwhile, the Borno State Commissioner if Health and Human Resources, Hon. Juliana Bitrus in an interview with Journalists said the latest update on the cholera outbreak in the state shot up from 559 to 917 suspected cases in 10 LGAs now while death remains at 43 but the number of LGAs affected by the disease has increased to 10 LGAs with Shani, Biu and Kwaya Kursa LGAs also enlisted recently.
She added that however, with the inauguration of the state high powered committee, more efforts will be put to contain the situation and not to allow it spread to other LGAs of the state