No fewer than 25 persons have died and several others hospitalised following the outbreak of Gastroenteritis also known as Cholera in three council areas in Sokoto North, Silame and Kware local government areas of the state. 

The state commissioner for health Asabe Balarabe who disclosed this to newsmen in Sokoto, said currently the state is treating 15 victims of the outbreak on active cases from Sokoto North, Silame and Kware local government areas.

According to her, the 15 active cases were diagnosed through laboratory tests based on culture and sensitivity and confirmed to be active cases of the outbreak.

She also disclosed that 1,160 people were said to have been affected by the outbreak and 25 of the victims have already succumbed to the disease.

According to her, the state rescue teams are working in collaboration with the state government to manage and forestall further spread of the dreaded disease.

She described the state government’s response to the outbreak as prompt and effective, adding that medication and drugs have already been purchased and distributed to 18 local government areas, as an intervention to curtail the continued spread of the disease.

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has commenced the enrollment of 10,000 people in Rivers West Senatorial District under the “Bringing Healthcare Home” initiative.

Dr Kelechi Ohiri, Director-General of NHIA, made this known in a statement by Emmanuel Ononokpono, Assistant Director of Media, on Wednesday in Abuja.

The programme was sponsored by Sen. Ipalibo Banigo, the Chairperson, Senate Committee on Health.

It was aimed at expanding access to quality healthcare in the region, and was launched in Ahoada East Local Government Area of the State.

Ohiri said that health insurance was a critical tool to combat health-related poverty issues and inequality.

He said that access to affordable healthcare was essential for maintaining human dignity.

“The initiative targets reducing the high rate of out-of-pocket healthcare expenses in Nigeria, with 70 per cent of the population currently bearing healthcare costs without financial support,” he said.

Meanwhile, the sponsor of the programme, Sen. Ipalibo Banigo, affirmed her commitment to improving healthcare access for her constituents.

“At the flag-off, over 30 beneficiaries received their health insurance identity cards, marking the beginning of their coverage under the programme, which spans eight Local Government Areas in Rivers West,” she said.

She said that the initiative underscored the role of health insurance in addressing social inequalities and improving healthcare access, particularly for vulnerable communities.

A supplementary immunisation campaign for measles will begin in Edo from Oct. 5 to Oct. 13 across the 18 local government areas of the state, an official has said.

The Head of the Health Education Unit, Edo Primary Health Care Development Agency, Mrs  Irene Uabor,  announced this in Benin on Monday.

Uabor said that the campaign would focus on administering the measles vaccine to children of 9 months old to 59 months old, targeting those under five years old.

“Measles is a life-threatening disease caused by the measles virus that can spread from one infected person to another.

“Measles affects mostly children with the symptoms of fever, cough, running nose, red eyes, and small red spots in the mouth.

“It can lead to death due to complications in the form of diarrhoea and pneumonia,” she said.

She noted that in addition to the measles vaccine, children between zero and 23 months of age would receive other childhood vaccines due to them.

She also said that girls in the age bracket of nine years and 14 years would be administered the Human Papilloma Virus vaccine during the exercise.

“Health workers will be stationed at all primary health care centres and other designated locations, including crèches, schools, churches, mosques, markets, and other places where eligible children can be found”.

She said further that “vaccines are free, safe, and effective, parents and guardians are expected to take advantage of the campaign to protect their children from vaccine-preventable diseases.”