Kwara Government has alerted healthcare surveillance team across the 16 local government areas of the state on preparations and preventive measures against any possible outbreak of cholera in the state.
Chief Press Secretary in the state Ministry of Health, Mr Gbenga Falade, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Ilorin.
Falade said that the ministry had commenced massive awareness campaign across the state through radio jingles on the disease and how people could protect themselves against having it.
He explained that the ministry had taken some proactive measures to stem any outbreak, adding that government would also take all necessary actions to ensure safety of the lives of the citizens.
Also speaking on preventive measures against the disaease, Prof. Tanimola Akande, of the Department of Public Health, University of Ilorin, advised Nigerians on proper sanitation in the area of proper disposal of faeces.
According to Akande, also a Consultant Public Health Physician with University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), other preventive measures include: food and water hygiene.
He described cholera as an acute diarrhoeal disease caused by vibrio cholera, a gram negative curved bacterium, adding that it is a potentially life-threatening waterborne disease.
The medical expert stated that vaccination remained one of the most cost-effective measures in controlling cholera epidemic.
“Vaccination is one of the cost-effective measures in the control of cholera epidemic. Cholera vaccination alone may not be enough for controlling it,” he said.
Akande stressed the need for taking preventive measures, including adequate food hygiene and water supply, together with sanitation.
He said that there should also be an adequate surveillance system that could detect cases early and appropriate control measures, including treatment of cases.
The don urged universities and research institutes to provide technical support to various levels of government in the investigation of epidemics and in controlling cholera epidemic in particular.
He also stressed for government to intensify efforts toward zero tolerance for open defecation, saying that all buildings should have functional toilets or ventilated pit latrines. (NAN).
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