BY ABDULLAHI ISAH, MAIDUGURI
To control the outbreak of Cholera across the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Borno and its environs that has claimed the lives of 44 persons, the Borno state Ministry of Health in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partner organizations will on Monday September 18, 2017 commence vaccination against cholera in five local governments across the state.
Briefing newsmen at the WHO Conference Hall, on Friday the Borno state commissioner for Health, Dr. Haruna Mshelia said the vaccination will be carried out in Jere, MMC, Monguno, Konduga and Dikwa local government area with more emphasis on the IDP camps and their environs.
He said “we recorded 1,932 suspected cases of cholera with 44 dead across the Muna IDPs camps and its environs, in Dikwa, Konduga, Monguno, Jere and MMC but not all cases were confirmed to be cholera”.
The commissioner stated that with combined efforts of all stakeholders in the health sector treatment centres were establish across the IDP camps, equipped with drugs and other facilities needed and the outbreak was put under control.
While commending all stakeholders for their efforts, the commissioner said that prompt actions, such as administering of ORT, personal hygiene, enlightenment, water, sanitation and fumigations were carried out in all areas considered to be high risk areas, stressing that the door to door vaccination will be carried out in these areas and called on parents and the general public to avail themselves of the opportunity of the vaccination exercise, as children from 1 year above will be vaccinated against cholera.