Plateau State, has, according to Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), ranked free from the reported cases of cholera outbreak threatening the health across over thirty-three (33) States in Nigeria.
The State Programme Coordinator of Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) Program, Engr. Jonathan Malann, disclosed this Wednesday at the press briefing held at the conference hall of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Jos, the State capital.
He said, “the outbreak has been recorded in 33 States of the country with no official case recorded in Plateau State as reported by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
“Cholera is a severe diarrheal disease caused by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It remains a significant threat to health, particularly in areas with inadequate water supply, sanitation, and hygiene.
“The Ministry of Health have the responsibility of early identification of cholera cases. During the incident of suspected cases in Mangu LGA, the Director Disease Control, carried out investigation which turned out to be negative, further confirming the non-record status of the State”, he disclosed.
Malann, however, highlighted that, early identification of cases helped in isolating patients and thereby reducing spread to others and also allowed health workers to move into affected communities with specific preventive measures.
He disclosed that, it was for this preventive measures that the present administration under Governor Caleb Mutfwang, had approved the procurement of bulk assorted water treatment chemicals for the state water supply agencies.
The SURWASH Programme Coordinator, listed some of the agencies to include: Jos Water Services Corporation (JWSC); Plateau Municipal Water Supply and Sanitation Agency and Plateau Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (PRUWASSA) who would on hand to provide chlorine tablets, powdered chlorine and Water Guard to prevent water contamination in rural communities.
He added that, the Jos Water Services Corporation and the Plateau Municipal Water Supply and Sanitation Agency would continued to ensure that all water supplied through pipelines are treated before distribution to households within the Greater Jos Area.
On his part, the State Epidemiologist, Dr Job Maren, who stood in for the State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Cletus Bako Shurkuk, said, prevention was the best cure to every disease and called on citizens to ensure they first provide help by using ORT or coconut water to the patient before taking him or her to the hospital.
Meanwhile, the Director General of Plateau Environmental Protection and Sanitation Agency (PEPSA), Samuel Dapia, commended the NUJ for maintaining a clean toiletries and called on the general public to take ownership of Public toilets around neighbourhood. There were questions and answers sessions.
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