The United Nations Children Education Fund UNICEF has presented 90 units of acute watery diarrhea kits and 50 cholera beds worth 113.2 million naira to contain the spread of cholera in Borno State.
The State Government has last week declared the outbreak of cholera with 17 confirmed cases in five local government areas of the state in the aftermath of the recent flood disaster.
At a ceremony in Maiduguri, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Rownak Khan said the cholera kits will reach about 500,000 people across the state.
According to her, the Federal Government with support of UNICEF and other partners have delivered 300,000 doses oral cholera vaccine, noting that additional 600,000 doses would be delivered to the state.
“We are very pleased to handover some of the supplies which will help address this current cholera outbreak. I Am happy to announce that am handing over 30 acute watery diarrhea kits (90 units) and 50 cholera beds valued at $69,075 equivalent to N113, 284,213.60” Khan stated.
Dr. Rownak Khan explained that the Fund has also constructed emergency latrines in IDP camps, provided water, sanitation and hygiene WASH kits in Bakasi, Dalori, Gubio and Ashiekh Jarma camps to prevent outbreak of diseases.
Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Professor Baba Malam Gana represented by the Special Adviser on Health appreciated UNICEF for the timely intervention.
He remark that the donation of additional beds has now increase the capacity of the Cholera treatment centre from 100 to 150 bed capacity.
“What UNICEF has done today is to put the state on a sound footing of saving the lives of any cholera patient, any patient with acute watery diarrhea, whether proven as cholera or not, with the facilities we have today will receive instant and optimum management” Gana assured.
The Commissioner expressed commitment of the state government to work with partners to contain the spread cholera in the camps and host communities.
DAUDA ILIYA
