The deputy governor of Borno State, Usman Kadafur, has inaugurated a 13 member response committee for the control of cholera outbreak in the state.
While inaugurating the committee in his office at the Government House on Tuesday, Kadafur urged the general public to ensure proper hygiene of their surroundings.
He noted that the disease is being contracted through food and water contaminated with bacteria agent called vibrio cholera, or living in a dirty environment that contains the agent.
According to press release signed by the Senior Special Assistant on Publicity to the state governor, Lanre Obadiah, the deputy governor added that people should take some precautionary measures by observing regular hand washing before eating and after visiting the toilet, covering of food and warming of leftover food before consumption.
To stop the spread of the disease in Borno State, the deputy governor explained that government has constituted rapid response teams for disease surveillance and control in all the affected areas to handle suspected cases.
He said the state ministry of health has confirmed the death of 43 persons from cholera outbreak and 559 suspected cases in the affected areas of MMC, Jere, Gwoza, Kaga, Hawul, Magumeri and Damboa, respectively.
Kadafur said members of the committee were appointed based on their individual merit, experience and personal integrity; therefore, they should work hard to justify the confidence reposed in them.
He assured that government will give them all the necessary support to carry out their assignment successfully.
The terms of reference of the committee, according to the deputy governor are: to determine the extent of the outbreak, the level of preparedness for the control of the disease to ascertain the cause of the disease, ensure effective collaboration with the response teams, as well as to determine the needs requirement for the control of the outbreak.
Kadafur added that the committee should coordinate all resources available for the control and prevention of the outbreak and ensure the establishment of a situation room for regular updates and to activate all LGAs rapid response teams.
Responding, the committee chairman and Chief of Staff to the governor, Isa Marte Hussain, said the committee will immediately swing into action and will liaise with ministry of health, environment and other relevant bodies to ensure all preventive measures are put in place.
The chairman also promised to justify the confidence reposed in the committee by working hard to control and prevent further outbreak of the disease.
