The Ogun State government this monday confirmed that twenty-five cases of cholera outbreaks have been recorded in seven local government areas of the state
Out of the twenty-five cases, according to the commissioner for health, Dr. Tomi Coker, nine cases have been confirmed while one death was recorded
Addressing newsmen at the Olusegun Osoba press Centre, okemosan, Abeokuta, alongside her other colleagues from the Ministry of Environment, Mr Ola Oresanya, education and the general manager of the state water corporation, Dr coker informed that the affected local governments include ado-odo ota, Remo North, Odeda, Sagamu, Ijebu North, Ewekoro and Obafemi÷Owode
She explained that prior to the outbreak, the state government had carried out surveillance systems in all the twenty local governments, which she said helped in the early detection of the cholera outbreak in the affected local governments
Speaking further, Dr. Coker stated that the state had earlier recorded two cases of the communicable disease on the 12th of June, which was properly managed but later spread to other local government areas of the state.
Dr. Coker while reiterating the state’s government readiness to tackle the menace headon said the government has put the necessary machinery in place across the 20 local government areas for proper monitoring through the local government area , LGA disease surveillance and notification officers, LGA DSNO urging members of the public to call the following numbers 08038642812, 07034214893 and 08084250881 to report any suspected case immediately
She emphasised that cholera test kits and other consumables needed for treatment have been distributed to all LGAs and designated treatment centres to ensure prompt diagnosis and treatment informing that treatment of cholera is free across all government facilities in the state
She added that her ministry is partnering with other ministries, agencies as well as private health facilities to ensure the delivery of an efficient and effective healthcare service delivery to the residents of the state.
The commissioner appealed to the residents to support the government’s efforts in checkmating the menace in the state by observing personal hygiene at all times
On his part, the commissioner for environment; Mr Ola Oresanya, stated that the issue of open defecation has been identified as a major cause of the outbreak in the state especially in Ijebu-Ode North and efforts to combat this has been taken with the construction of public toilets across the 20 local Governments.
Mr Oresanya also called on the residents of the state to take charge of their environment by ensuring that they do not leave garbage unattended in order to curtail the epidemic.
