Ruth Semilore
At least 130 people are suspected to have contracted cholera in Oyo State, with 9 cases confirmed.
Most of the suspected cases were reported from six local government areas, including Ibadan North West, Ibadan South West, Ido, Akinyele, and Atiba.
Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, confirmed the cholera outbreak, stating that six of the suspected cases admitted to the Infectious Disease Centre in Olodo have been discharged.
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“As of yesterday, we have about six or thereabouts. You know, some are okay, and they’ve been discharged. Some are joining.
“So I don’t know the particular figure, but yesterday about six or some have been discharged,” she said.
She declared that her ministry, working with the Ministry of Environment and the Oyo State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), had engaged the local government chairmen of the concerned area to help create awareness among the people about cholera.
She added that directives had also been issued that directors of PHC across the state embark on immediate and regular community sensitisation activities to educate the community on personal and household levels of preventative measures against cholera.
The directives she said also indicated that they should also liaise with the Environmental Health Department to activate appropriate activities to break the cycle; offices in charge of facilities should be given orientation on the facility management of cholera cases.
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“As the immediate time measure, we’ve started sensitising them about hygiene. Hand hygiene, particularly, because we see a lot of people need to have people washing their hands, even after coming out from the toilet.
“And they should not put their refuse in the rain, particularly during this rainy season.
“Also, wherever they are cooking or making their food should be far away from the toilet or where they dump their refuse.
“And they should make sure that if they suspect. Anything, they should report.
“Some areas in Ibadan don’t have toilets.
“In the mid-term or long term, we are building toilets in those areas that we were able to identify that don’t have toilets.”
Dr. Ajetunmobi further stated that the Health Ministry had decontaminated the environment of the church with suspected cholera cases while continuing its efforts to raise awareness about personal and environmental hygiene.
She urged Nigerians to take ownership of their health by regularly washing their hands, maintaining a clean environment, and ensuring their food sources are hygienic, especially during the rainy season, as there is already an outbreak.
