Solacebase sensitizes stakeholders on prevention of cholera outbreak

 

By Afusat Agunbiade-Oladipo

An Ilorin based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Solacebase Communication has sensitized stakeholders on the prevention, symptoms and treatments of cholera outbreak in Kwara.

The Founder of the NGO, Abdullateef Jos, on Wednesday at a day workshop to sensitize stakeholders on Integrating Community Inclusion to combat cholera outbreak using the Primary Health Care(PHC) centers.

Jos urged the people to live hygienic life and take the measure of hands wash with soap regularly under running water.

He implored the state government to give priority to WASH programme, (Programme organized for people to have access to good water and eradication of open defecation).

He advised the stakeholders present at the event to go back to their community and sensitize them about what they learnt from the event in order to prevent cholera outbreak.

The Kwara Commissioner for Health, Dr Aminat El-Imam, who was represented by Dr Ajao Shuaib of the Department of Public Health, commended the organiser of the programme, saying it came at the right time.

El-Imam said that the causes of cholera comes from the community and until the community is educated, it cannot be prevented or eradicated.

He said that Kwara is readily prepared, and the laboratory and equipment has been sent to the primary health care centers and alert for the outbreak of cholera.

He urged the stakeholders to sensitize their community on the proper hygiene such as regular hand wash, cleanliness of their environment to prevent cholera outbreak.

He added that another preventive measures is boiling of borehole water before drinking and eradication of open defecation.

“No single case of cholera in Kwara because if you hear that your neighbors house is on fire, be ready to help them quench the fire so that it won’t affect your house.

“That is what we are doing in Kwara. No single case of cholera but we have put in place all the measures to prevent it”, he said.

Prof. Olalubi Oluwashogo, the Deputy Director, Centre for Research and Development, called for the need to strengthen the health system in terms of regular training of health workers.

He explained that there is need to reach out to the far away community and disseminate proper information with respect to control of cholera.

He emphasized on need to create more awareness about the mode of transmission, Symptoms, treatment and how cholera is prevented especially in the rural area.

He urged the public to stay away from buying sachets or bottle water that the NAFDAC registration number ends with L, saying that it has not been approved yet.

He added that any water that the registration number end with L means NAFDAC is yet to inspect their facilities.

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