FCTA Ready To Fight Cholera

By: Prudence Okonna

Following the recently reported cases of cholera in some parts of the country, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has re-assured that it is ready and committed to fighting the endemic disease to protect the lives of residents of the Federal Capital Territory.

Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES), Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, gave this assurance, at a One-day sensitization exercise on Cholera, at Mpape, a suburb of Abuja.

The Mandate Secretary whose speech was delivered by the Acting Director, Special Duties, Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ijeoma Jimi-Bada, reiterated that the FCT Administration is equal to the task and is committed to addressing the disease; saying that it can be prevented with the right knowledge.

Her words: “We are not powerless in the face of this disease, with the right knowledge, resources and actions, Cholera can be prevented, controlled and ultimately eradicated.”

“The FCT Administration is fully committed to this cause and I want to assure you that we are mobilizing every available resource to protect our citizenry”, she added.

The Mandate Secretary expressed the commitment of the FCT Administration under the leadership of the Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, prioritizing health and environmental services because a healthy population is key to a thriving economy.

Fasawe said the sensitization exercise is of utmost urgency, because the populace is not immune to the challenges posed by Cholera, especially as they have a critical role to play in protecting themselves.

She called for the cooperation of the residents in adhering to the information provided on how to prevent Cholera, and sanitation practices to help protect themselves.

Acting Director Public Health Department, Dr. Dan Gadzama, whose Department organized the sensitization exercise, said it was important to visit Mpape community, because of the history of recorded cholera cases in the past and to remind them of the need to prioritise sanitation practices such as constant hand washing before and after every activity, treatment of drinking water, and the need to clean their environment.

He called on the residents to report any suspected case to the nearest health facility.

Gadzama revealed that five cases had been recorded in the FCT, but had fully recovered; stressing that sensitization exercise is one of the many steps the Department is taking to protect the residents.

Chairman Council of Local Chiefs Forum, Mpape, Oba Musbau Olanrewaju, appreciated the FCT Administration for coming to sensitize the community as well as the efforts made to eradicate the disease five years ago.

He, therefore, assured that every local community Chief in their forum would cascade the information to members of their different communities.

Abuja Digest reports that Cholera is a water-borne disease, spread by contaminated food and water which causes watery diarrhea (watery stool), and vomiting and if left untreated, can lead to death.

Abuja Digest further reports that Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) reported that 2,500 cases had been recorded across the country with 41 documented deaths.