Cholera Outbreak Hits Niger Communities, Claims Five Lives

MINNA – No fewer than five people have lost their lives and several others hospitalised in Kat­cha Local Government Area (LGA) following the outbreak of cholera in the area. There are also fears that the disease has spread to Paiko in Paikoro LGA. Apart from Katcha, influx of patients with complica­tions suspected cases cholera has been witnessed in Paiko Modern Clinic, as the manage­ment of the hospital already allocated a ward to the affected patients.

Though the head of the facility declined comments, a healthcare worker, told our correspondent on the condition of anonymity that the facility has recorded at least four new cases and deaths already as at Wednesday. Daily Independent findings suggest that the disease’s out­break might not be unconnect­ed with lack of potable water as the people depend on seasonal river flows and dug wells for both domestic and commercial water needs. Relatives of patients at the Paiko health facility recalled what they go through sourcing for water to bathe the patients, wash their clothes and also meet other sanitary needs.



The Permanent Secretary, Niger State Ministry of Health, Dr. Muhammad Gana, con­firmed the outbreak but could not account for the number of deaths but added that some health personnel with drugs have been dispatched to the affected areas to contain the situation. “The ministry has already the dispatched a team of health professionals with commod­ities to curtail the outbreak,” he said.

Meanwhile, there are fears that the disease would spread beyond Paiko and Katche as unconfirmed reports had it that the state had no cholera vaccines. Gana, however, observed that the ministry had not been officially communicated by the local government health authorities. While attributing possible cause of cholera outbreak to poor hygiene, Dr.

Gana who called on citizens to take per­sonal and environmental hy­giene very serious said cholera is water and sanitation- related issues..