It has been revealed over the weekend that about two persons have died at Ago Palace Way, Okota, after consistently stooling and vomiting, which are common features of cholera.
It has also been reported that two sisters were admitted on the same day at a hospital after they had stooled and vomited consistently and although they were responding to treatment, they had been fitted with adult-sized pampers on them to cushion the effect of the stooling.
At Femi Killa, it was gathered that about three persons died after eating local African salad, which they bought from a food vendor in the area and the seller was arrested by the police.
According to the Medical Director of Ago Medical Centre, Dr. Kola Afolabi, there was an outbreak of gastroenteritis, which he described, as one of the symptoms of cholera.
Afolabi said: “For the past one week, patients with frequent diarrhoea and vomiting have been brought to my hospital, but I cannot say it is cholera because a diagnosis must be conducted to confirm cholera.”
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who confirmed the development in Lagos on Wednesday, said that out of the 13 cases reported, three persons have died.
Worst affected places are, Ajeromi, Apapa, Lagos Island, Oshodi and Surulere.
The commissioner attributed the epidemic to contaminated wells, local food and non-washing of hands.
He urged residents of the state to report any known case to the nearest health centre.
“We have sent our officials to the various local governments where it has been reported and the victims are being adequately treated. The public should maintain good personal hygiene and ensure that their food and water are properly preserved.”
He urged the state residents: “To be vigilant and report any suspected case, dead or alive, to the nearest health facility and the directorate of disease control in the state. Cholera is an acute contagious bacterial disease that is characterised by severe form of sudden onset of profuse painless watery stools, nausea and profuse vomiting.”
Meanwhile, the Medical Director of Zamfara State University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Labaran Anka, said 536 others have also been infected by the disease.
According to Anka, villagers rely on handmade ponds where animals and people share water.
Anka said about 420 patients had been treated and discharged since the first victims arrived last Friday.
Similarly, the Plateau State Government has confirmed that about 96 persons have been infected and hospitalised over cholera in Qua’npan Local Government Area of the state, while nine persons have been lost so far to the outbreak of the disease in the state.
The state Epidemiologist, Dr. Raymond Yuryit, identified overcrowding, dirty environment and unhygienic food and water as the causes of the outbreak,
Yuryit said those diagnosed with the disease had been hospitalised in various healthcare centres in the area.
According to him, most of the boreholes in the local government were not functional, the wells were left uncovered and the environment is not sanitised.
Also speaking, a Deputy Director from the Federal Ministry of Health, Moses Anafiong, said President Goodluck Jonathan was saddened by the outbreak of cholera in the state.
He advised the villagers to boil their waters before drinking and take necessary measures at sanitizing their environment.
The chairperson of the state Water and Sanitation Hygiene (WASH) Committee, Mrs. Hannatu Dantong, who doubles as the Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Water Resources, said the ministry would carry out an awareness campaign to the villages on how best to sanitise environment in order to stop the spread of the disease.
Thanks for visiting my Blog!
No comments:
Post a Comment