The Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, has flagged off community sensitization on cholera and other severe acute diarrhea diseases outbreaks in the nation’s capital, Abuja.

The Minister, during the flag off ceremony held at the palace of Agora of Zuba, expressed concerns over the increasing number of suspected cases.

Since May 2021, the Federal Capital Territory has recorded a total of 604 suspected cases of cholera in the six area councils with 54 deaths recorded and 9 cases positive for cholera on rapid diagnostic test.

The minister further revealed that over 120 communities are involved across the six area councils with the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) having the highest cases followed by Gwagalada and Bwari area councils respectively.

According to her, some of the communities involved in Gwagwalada include Zuba, Shenagu, Katse 1 & 2, Tunga Gaya, Chitumu, Yimi, Ikwa, Tunga-Maje, Anagada amongst others.

She, however, advocated for good personal hygiene as well as proper disposal of sewage and refuse, good hand washing practices and consumption of safe water as means of curbing further spread of the disease in the territory.

“In addition, community engagements for positive behavioural changes and improved sanitation and quick access to treatment are essential.

“Protect your water source from contamination, boil your water before drinking with a clean cup, cooperate with health officials who will come to teach you home treatment of water for domestic use and drinking,” she stressed.

The minister also revealed that as a matter of urgency, the Administration has taken several measures to stop further spread of the disease as well as provide adequate care to those affected.

The measures according to her include formation of Cholera Emergency Operation Centre, appointment of Incidence Manager and other relevant medical personnel along with stakeholders from the FCT Water Board and RUWASA, prepositioning of drugs and consumables for the free treatment of all identified cases in both secondary and primary healthcare facilities of the FCT amongst others.

In his remarks, the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, who was represented by the Ag. Secretary, FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat, Dr. Mohamed Kawu, stated that the Secretariat was working with development partners and in collaboration with the six area councils to curb the spread.

He, however, commended the FCT Minister of State for her leadership role and how to move board room resolutions to the field, stressing that her roles in successful community sensitization and mobilization in Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Care, Universal Health Coverage activities, Wild Polio Virus Eradication in the FCT are appreciated by residents.

The Agora of Zuba, HRH. Alh. Muhammad Bello, chairman of Gwagwalada area council, Hon. Adamu Mustapha, representatives of development partners gave goodwill message at the occasion.

Traditional ruler has urged his districts and village heads on the need to enrol into the FCT Health insurance scheme, FHIS, and their families.

The Chief of Karu in Nigeria’s Capital City Abuja, HRH. Emmanuel Kyauta Yepwi gave the charged during an advocacy visit to his palace organised by the Karu Area office of the FHIS in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

He advised those traditional rulers and their families who are frequent visitors to hospitals in a year to seek the method of health instead of always borrowing.

He commended the FHIS for setting up an office in his community and urged them to ensure that the Karu General Hospital is up and running so that his people can benefit from it.

The Sa’akaruyi noted that, “The facility we have in Karu here, no hospital in the FCT has it and they are just laying fallow for this long and becoming obsolete, I will talk to the MD again, tell her that if the FCT Minister of state is not listening to her, let her invite me we will go to meet the minister together.”

The Sa’akaruyi further directed the district heads and the village heads to take the message of FHIS enrolment down to their communities so as they can also help their community members especially the sick ones.

Earlier in his presentation the Director FHIS, Dr M. Ahmed-Danfulani who was represented by the Public Relations Officer FHIS, David Barau informed the Sa’akaruyi that they were in his palace on advocacy for some of the programmes and benefits of enrolling on the FHIS and also to let him know that the FHIS has an area office in his community as well as to sensitise them on the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund BHCF.

Mr. Barau added that, “To achieve this we have 2 main sectors of enrolment which are the formal and informal sectors, the formal sector is what most of you know; that is public servants, government workers and organised private sector like banks and big companies, they category of workers have their premium removed at source from the their salaries monthly, however most Nigerians don’t belong to the formal sector, so the FHIS has plan to cover Nigerians who do not belong to the formal sector and want to benefit.”

He reiterated that with only N13, 500 per annum, an individual from the informal sector will enjoy full healthcare benefits that are enjoyed by those that fall in the formal sector which includes free births, caesarean section hospitalization for up to 21 days and many surgeries.

Another member of the team Blessing Ticky also informed the palace that in order to simplify the payment for those unable to pay a lump sum of N13, 500, the FHIS had signed an MOU with the FCT Microfinance Bank (FCTMFB) to enable the enrollees pay in instalments.

The Kwara State Government said it is targeting about 600,000 children for seasonal malaria chemo-prevention drugs in 11 local government areas of the state that are prone to the disease.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq stated this during the flag-off of the Seasonal Malaria Chemo-prevention Programme at the Primary Healthcare Centre, Adewole in Ilorin.

The Governor, who was represented by Dr. Raji Razaq, Kwara State Commissioner for Health, said the malaria chemoprevention was meant for children who are three months old to five years.

“It involves administering monthly doses of antimalarial drugs on children, aged three to 59 months, during peak malaria transmission season.

“The drugs include Sulfadoxine, Pyrimethamine, and Amodiaquine, which would be administered to the children in three consecutive doses.”

According to him, the government invested about N130 million for the malaria chemo-prevention, in conjunction with the National Malaria Elimination Programme.

The government was alarmed at the steady rise in malaria cases among children which, he said, portend danger and loss of lives.

“This necessitated the need for preventive measures against the spread of the disease in the 11 malaria-endemic local governments,” he said.

He explained further that the government would come up with a strategy for the remaining five LGAs on how to ensure preventive measures against the disease.

Alhaji Abdullahi Nageri, the Head of State Malaria Elimination Programme, had earlier said this was a giant stride by the state government to further promote good health among citizens.

Kwara was among the 20 states in the federation with this initiative, adding that the programme is to ensure a reduction in malaria mortality among children due to malaria.

He appealed to all mothers and caregivers to avail themselves of the opportunity, by presenting their children for the malaria chemo-prevention.

Mallam Zakarriya Aromaradu, the Mogaji (traditional chief) of Adewole area, commended the state government for the initiative and enjoined mothers to ensure their children received malaria chemo-prevention.