Sixty-nine persons were said to have died from cholera outbreak in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), it was learnt on Friday.
The Acting Secretary, Health and Human Secretariat, Dr Mohammed Kawu, revealed this at a media briefing after the FCT Emergency Operation Treatment Committee met with FCT Minister, Malam Mohammed Bello to review the situation.
Kawu, who appeared with Dr. Saddique Sani, Director Public Health, said there were 1,000 cholera reported cases and all have been treated and discharged.
He identified the epicenter of the gastro enteritis disease in the territory as the Byzhin community in Kubwa, Ushafa in Bwari Area Council and Gwagwa in Abuja Municipal Area Council.
Kawu said the medical committee had gone to the affected locations and had directed the important steps that needed to be taken to mitigate another outbreak next year.
He explained: “The FCT Emergency Operation Center just briefed the FCT Minister and other top management on the latest update on the outbreak of cholera in the FCT.
“The update is good news because the cases are coming down. We had reached the peak around July 19 but as of today the cases are coming down.
“In total we recorded 69 deaths and over a 1000 cases and all have been treated and discharged. What we are doing to avoid another outbreak is to ensure we provide portable water to all communities in FCT and good sanitation because as you know, Cholera is a disease of poor hygiene and lack of potable water.
“The Minister has directed that FCT Water Board and Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) should work with us closely. We are directed to come out with what FCT should do so that the issue of Cholera is overcome.
“The most important thing is that the cases have gone down and there are more important things to be done in those areas so that next year we won’t go through the same circle again”.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
