According to the data obtained from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), over 54 persons have reportedly succumbed to the Cholera disease.

Cholera, is an acute diarrheal infection caused by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium vibrio cholera, occurs majorly during the wet season.

The 16 states, that had reported suspected cholera cases in 2022 are Abia, Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Borno, Cross River, Katsina, Kebbi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ondo, Rivers, Taraba and Zamfara.

The centre said, “There was a 180% increase in the number of new suspected cases in April compared to March.

“A total of 1,861 suspected cases including 54 deaths have been reported from 16 states in 2022. Out of the suspected cases since the beginning of the year, the age group of children less than five years is the most affected.

“Three states, namely Taraba, Cross River and Katsina, account for 72 per cent of all cumulative cases.”

An epidemiologist, Dr. Stephen Fagbemi, said cholera outbreak is rampant during the rainy season because of peoples’ poor hygiene habits.

“The issue of cholera is about personal and environmental hygiene. Now that the rainy season is here, people should make sure the drains are clear and avoid throwing waste into the gutters.

“People should also ensure that wells are secured, and edge of the wells should be raise so that running waters does not go into them. People should also avoid locating the wells close to toilets.”

The Director, University of Abuja Centre of Excellence for Sickle Cell Research and Training, Prof. Obiageli Nnodu, has called for early screening of new born babies against Sickle Cell Disease (SCD).

She made the call in an interview in Abuja, adding that early screening would help to reduce morbidity and mortality among SCD patients.

She said “when babies with sickle cell disease are identified early and given prophylaxis, it will go a long way in checking infections.

“The parents of such babies will then be educated on what to do, in addition to good nutrition and be hydrated well, so that they live healthy lives.”

Nnodu announced an upcoming Sickle Pan Africa Research Consortium NigEria Network (SPARC-NEt) meeting to review what had been done in the past four years.

She added that the gathering would also review the implementation of a science research project on hydroxyurea utilisation on new born screening.

The director also said that the meeting would focus on the study of malaria prophylaxis and drugs used in the treatment of patients.

She said “we know that new born babies screening is very necessary, when babies with disease are identified early, they will be given prophylaxis for infection and that will go a long way to reduce morbidity.”

She explained that the intervention was being used in high income countries to check morbidity and mortality.

“We intend to see how such evidence can apply in the country. We have the tools and strategies to ensure that babies born with the diseases are discovered early and be saved.”

The National Blood Service Commission, (NBSC) has flagged off a sensitization of its core mandate in Abuja as part of its commitment to coordinate, regulate and ensure safe provision of quality blood and blood products in Nigeria.

The commission whose activities include the recruitment and awareness of healthy members of the public for voluntary blood donations through enlightenment, media campaigns and blood donation drives, is an offshoot of the defunct National Blood Transfusion service.

The acting Director General of the NBSC, Dr. Omale Joseph Amedu, stated the significance of safe and quality blood and blood products.

Dr. Amedu called on healthy Nigerians to cultivate the habit of voluntary blood donation to save lives of not just the sick in need of blood but accident victims many of whom die due to scarcity of blood pints in hospitals across the land.

The NBSC boss said, “We are targeting one million Nigerian regular unpaid blood donors, 100 per cent voluntary non-remunerated blood donors, increased innovation and use of technology as well as reduce adverse blood transfusion reactions and events.”

Blood establishments in the country must be regulated because of the need to ensure that the quality of blood collected, screened and transfused to patients is optimal and unlikely to be a source of harm.

The Ogun State Government says it has introduced a 24-hour ambulance service across communities and rural areas to address health emergencies.

According to the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, said this at a news conference recently in Abeokuta, “The state could only boast of five basic life support ambulances in 2019, but that this has now increased to 26 to cover the nine federal constituencies.

“The 24-hour ambulance service is extended to communities and rural areas, with over 16 ambulance points in strategic locations across the three senatorial districts.”

Introduction of tricycle ambulances in the hinterlands had been helpful in addressing infant and maternal mortality, which in the past was occasioned by the lack of transportation to health facilities.

The commissioner added that 70 per cent of Ogun residents in rural areas could easily be transported to any nearby primary healthcare centre in case of emergency.

The Director of Ambulance and Emergency Services, Dr. Hassan Adelakun, said the department had national emergency toll-free lines 112 and 08112000033 which are available for 24 hours to activate the nearest ambulance point.

According to the director, the department also provides free follow-up service, which transfers patients to any higher level of care.

He added that patients were also being moved under the follow-up service from homes, offices and communities to the nearest facility to access healthcare.