The Borno State Government has inaugurated a 13 member response committee for the control of cholera outbreak in the State.
This followed the confirmation of the death of 43 persons from cholera outbreak and 559 suspected cases in the affected areas of MMC, Jere, Gwoza, Kaga, Hawul, Magumeri and Damboa respectively by the state Ministry of health.
Inaugurating the Committee, the state Deputy Governor Umar Usman Kadafur urged members of the general public to ensure proper hygiene of their surroundings, noting that the disease is being contracted through food and water contaminated with bacteria agent called vibrio cholerae or living in a dirty environment that contain the agent.
He added that people should take some precautionary measures by observing regular hand washing before eating and after visiting the toilet, covering of food and warming of leftover food before consumption.
He also said, to stop the spread of the disease Borno state government has constituted Rapid Response Teams ( RRT ) for disease surveillance and control in all the affected areas to handle suspected cases.
Kadafur said the members of the committee are appointed based on their individual merit, experience and personal intergrity, therefore they should work hard to justify the confidence reposed in them.
He assured that government will give them all the necessary support to carry out their assignment successfully.
The terms of reference of the committee according to the Deputy Governor are; to determine the extent of the outbreak, the level of preparedness for the control of the disease to ascertain the cause of the disease, ensure effective collaboration with the response teams as well as to determine the needs requirement for the control of the outbreak.
Kadafur added that the committee should coordinate all resources available for the control and prevention of the outbreak and ensure the establishment of a situation room for regular updates and to activate all LGAs rapid response teams (RRT).
Responding, the committee Chairman and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Professor Isa Marte Hussain said the committee will immediately swing into action and will liase with ministry of health, environment and other relevant bodies to ensure all preventive measures are put in place.
The chairman also promised to justify the confidence reposed in them by working hard to control and prevent further outbreak of the disease.
