Yobe State has recorded at least 1000 cholera cases in the last few weeks, the commissioner for health and human services, Dr Mohammed Lawan Gana has revealed.
Gana who addressed newsmen in Damaturu, the state capital, said Yobe also recorded 50 deaths from the cholera outbreak.
The commissioner stated that the disease was majorly caused by flooding which affected many parts of the state including Damaturu the Yobe State capital.
He said despite the number of the deaths and cases recorded, the effects of the disease are low compared to what happened last year, attributing it to proactive measures put in place by the state government and other development partners.
“Yobe has also recorded cholera disease with at least 1000 cases and 50 deaths but one should understand that usually whenever there are natural disasters such as flooding of course such kinds of diseases are possible.
“I want to tell you that despite the devastating effects of flooding which destroyed many communities causing diseases such as cholera and malaria, the number of the cases and even the fatality is less compared to what we experienced last year.
“The ministry as well as its parastatals were on alert even before the report of the outbreak of the disease and the proactive measures put in place has helped in reducing the expected damages across the affected areas.
“I also want to tell you that even the malaria which usually used to create serious health problems yearly was on the decline compared to what we used to get previously,” Gana said.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the cholera disease affected about nine local government areas including Gujba, Gulani, Fika and Damaturu most of whom were affected by the recent flood disasters.
The state government and the World Health Organisation (WHO) had on the first week of September organised a one-day training for Community Health Champions on averting cholera and other diseases across the state.
