Ogun Allays Fears Over Spread Of Cholera, One Confirmed Dead

By Ayodele Oni

Ogun State Government has put in place measures to curtail spread of cholera just as it acknowledged the outbreak of the disease, with one death already recorded.

It said 25 cases have been reported in seven local government areas with one death.

Addressing journalists at a press conference on Monday at the Olusegun Osoba Press Centre, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta,  Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, alongside his Environment counterpart, Mr. Ola Oresanya, named the local governments as Ado-Odo/Ota, Remo North, Odeda, Sagamu, Ijebu-North, Ewekoro and Obafemi-Owode.

According to Dr. Coker, her Ministry is collaborating with relevant stakeholders from the Ministries of Environment, Information and Education, Water Corporation, private hospital owners, emergency services, among others.

“Emergency Operations Centre, having been activated earlier, is now in response mode, each MDA involved in the response is carrying out its responsibilities to curtail and control the outbreak.

“The Ministry and local government areas, waste, and environmental sanitation department is carrying out activities to curb open defecation and improve environmental hygiene.

“Medication and essential consumables have been repositioned at LGAs and other strategic health facilities to provide hitch free, quality treatment that is free in all government facilities.

“Cholera sanitation materials are being shared to all electronic platforms, including social media, radio, and television.

“The Ministry of Information and the risk communication pillar are working hard to engage the public on prevention practices, good hygiene, and sanitation.”

She identified contaminated food and drinks, unhygienic sanitary conditions and poor personal hygiene as some of the risk factors of the disease, imploring the people to imbibe hand hygiene, washing of food, vegetables, fruits properly before eating as well as avoid open defecation so as not to contact the sickness.