Africa: Diarrhoea kills eight in 5 Kogi local councils

Eight persons have been confirmed dead in Kogi State as diarrhoea breaks out in five local councils.

The Guardian gathered that the state has recorded 129 cases.

Epidemiologist, Dr. Austin Ojotule, confirmed this, yesterday, in a statement issued on behalf of the Commissioner for Health, Saka Audu.

The affected local councils areas, according to the statement, include Kogi, Bassa, Lokoja, Ankpa and Kabba Bunu.

“It has become very important for us as a ministry to brief the press on the outbreak of diarrhoea and vomitting suspected to be symptom of cholera in some local councils of the state in recent times.

“Seven communities were affected in the aforementioned local councils with 129 cases. However, we were able to confirm cholera in three of the communities in Kogi, Lokoja and Ankpa, with 66 persons affected and eight deaths (CFR=12.12 per cent). 

These are border communities with hard-to-reach terrains,” the statement reads.

He noted that most of the deaths occurred before the reports got to the local councils.

“Our findings also revealed that majority of the deaths in all the outbreaks occurred at home. In all the cases, the state’s health ministry has supported the outbreak response, with response commodities and technical support. The state is working closely with the local councils to avert further outbreaks by strengthening and sustaining community sensitisation and mobilisation.

“This is to ensure that communities adopted health safety measures such as good personal and environmental hygiene, as these measures are very key in preventing diarrhoea. People with diarrhoea and vomitting are encouraged to visit the nearest health facility as soon as they notice symptoms,” it added.

Ojotule disclosed that government would continue to collaborate with stakeholders to ensure that no single individual dies of a preventable disease in the state.

He averred that government would work with relevant agencies to ensure the provision of potable water in communities within the state and to ensure that diarrhoea is reduced to the barest minimum in Kogi. Theguardianng