By Augustine Okezie, Katsina

No fewer than 60 persons have died of cholera in Katsina State.

The development has triggered fear among the residents, but the state government has procured medications for distribution to hospitals to curb the spread of the disease, Commissioner for Health Yakubu Nuhu Danja said.

Danja spoke in Katsina, the state capital, at the 2021 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) held at the state Secretariat.

He also said that health education on prevention and management of the disease as well as active case search and surveillance were ongoing across the 34 local councils of the state.

He said, “We are aware of the current outbreak of diarrhoea and vomiting that is affecting some communities in the state. The state government is making efforts towards control of the outbreak.

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“Free drugs for the treatment of this outbreak have been purchased for distribution to hospitals for treatment of the cases. Health education on prevention and management of the disease is ongoing. Active case search and surveillance is also ongoing across the state.

“Presently, we have over 1,400 confirmed cases of cholera with over 60 recorded deads. Let me seize this opportunity to draw the attention of the general public to the fact that diarrhea and vomiting is a preventable disease”.

The Commissioner also counseled residents of the state to ensure proper environmental sanitation, frequent hand-washing, proper food hygiene, washing of all fruits and vegetables before eating as well as proper cooking of food items.

He equally appealed to food vendors to ensure that they cover their food items to avoid contact with flies and to avoid open defecation and drinking of contaminated water.