Ekiti State Government Intensifies Health Surveillance to forestall Cholera outbreak

 

Dr. Oyebanji Filani

By Wale Obelewaji

The Ekiti State Government has intensified health surveillance to forestall possible outbreak and spread of cholera in the State following reported cholera outbreak in 28 States of the Federation.

A statement from the office of the State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Oyebanji Filani warned of a possible outbreak of cholera in some Local Government Areas of the State.

According to him, five suspected cases of cholera were reported in Moba Local Government Area of the State on Saturday, 19th September 2021, stating that the cases were picked up by community informants and reported to the LGA health authorities who in turn reported to the State Ministry of health for proper investigation.

He assured that the Ministry has commenced active case finding across all LGAs in the State, stressing that State Surveillance teams have been deployed to support the outbreak response at the LGA level.

Noting that the State is leveraging on the capacity built during the Covid-19 response, Filani stated actively searching for and investigating of suspected cases in health facilities, informal treatment centres and within communities are currently on-going in line with earlier developed emergency operations plan to tackle a possible epidemic in the State.

Filani explained that Cholera is a preventable and treatable
epidemic-prone disease that is transmitted by eating or drinking contaminated food or water, stressing the need to promptly visit Health facilities if symptoms of possible infection such as watery diarrhoea and vomiting are notice as the risk of death from disease is very high when treatment is delayed and cases of contagion tend to increase during the rainy season.

 He urged members of the public to be aware of the risk of the disease and adhere to preventive measures which include boiling and storing drinking water in clean and safe containers, drinking, prepare, cook and store food safely.

The Commissioner also stressed that importance of frequent hand washing with soap under clean running water especially after defecation and before handling food or eating and emphasised the need to avoid open defecation and indiscriminate refuse dumping.

The Commissioner also stated that healthcare workers have been directed to maintain a high index of suspicion for cholera while consistently observing standard protocols for infection prevention and control.