Special adviser to the Osun State governor on health matters, Dr. Adekunle Akindele, has said the state is yet to record any confirmed case of cholera.
Akindele said contrary to claims in certain quarters, Osun only recorded 13 suspected cases, all of which turned out negative upon laboratory assessment.
He assured the residents that adequate preventive measures had been put in place to prevent occurrences and respond to outbreaks whenever a case was recorded.
“Osun State government through the Ministry of Health, has proactively reactivated and established the Public Health Rapid Response Team (PHRRT) and Cholera Technical Working Group (CTWG) respectively, to ensure adequate surveillance and risk communication activities to guarantee the health of the citizens,”.
A statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, quoted Akindele as saying that “Though Osun has yet to record any confirmed case of cholera, adequate preventive measures have been put in place to prevent the occurrence and respond to the outbreak in case we eventually record a case.”
Akindele said the state government is exploring the media to sensitise the public on preventive measures against cholera while surveillance mechanisms across the 30 local government areas and border towns have been heightened to fight the spread of the disease.
“Thirteen sample(s) collected so far. All 13 samples sent to the laboratory, of which 13 (100 percent) were negative, 0 positive and no pending result,” he pointed out, adding that “Cholera RDT kits and transport media have been strategically distributed to some Health Facilities across the 30 LGAs.”
He said the Ministry of Health will continue to intensify public awareness on preventing cholera and what to do when symptoms develop, calling on the media not to pander to sensationalism at a time like this but rather focus on disseminating information that will save lives.
