Niger reports over 100 cholera deaths in five months

Niger State Government on Wednesday disclosed that over one hundred people have died of cholera outbreaks across the 25 local councils in the state, from April to date.

The State Commissioner for Health and Hospital Services, Dr Mohammed MakunSidi, disclosed this during an interview with journalists at the ongoing training workshop for journalists by Pathfinder International in Minna, the state capital.

MakunSidi lamented that the rate of open defecation and waste disposal attitude of citizens, especially the rural dwellers, is responsible for the annual menace of the disease.

While cautioning the people of the state on the preventive measures to contain the disease, the Commissioner advised those infected to seek medical services from the public health services in their communities immediately symptoms occur.

MakunSidi commended Pathfinder International for the training as concerns the Family Planning and Child Spacing programmes which, he noted, is key in achieving universal health coverage as well providing technical support to the state.

He itemised some of the challenges facing Family Planning to include running out of commodities, inadequate funds, and insecurity in about 8 local councils.

He, however, assured the 100% revitalization of PHC centres through the state policy of the ‘Niger Health 1.0 Plan’.