FG deploying contingency resources for cholera outbreak, says Ali Pate

Muhammad Pate, coordinating minister of health and social welfare, says the federal government has mobilised resources to contain the spread of cholera in the country.

Pate spoke when he appeared on ‘The Morning Brief’, a Channels Television programme, on Wednesday.

He said a technical working group was established through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to support states in reducing disease transmission.

“We had anticipated the seasonal outbreak some months ago. The president approved contingency financing for the NCDC and that is what has been used so far, in addition to technical financing,” he said.

“The states also have a role to play to release their own funding.

“Thirty-one states are affected, 107 local governments are affected; about 1,500 cholera cases have been recorded so far in the country.”

The health minister assured Nigerians that the cholera outbreak would be curbed.

“We have to deal with open defecation, so that faeces will not come in contact with food and water,” he added.

“The cholera outbreak is part of a global phenomenon. Cholera is a public health crisis and a disease that comes through contamination of food, water, poor sanitation, developmental challenges and deficit in infrastructure.

“Open defecation prevalent in many parts of the country is fuelling the outbreak.”

Pate called for a multi-sectoral approach to prevent infectious diseases in the country.

He added that all stakeholders have preventive roles to play to “see less and less of this issue in years to come”.

“It is not only cholera by the way. There are other infectious diseases like typhoid fever, tuberculosis, and others,” he said.

“So, as we improve the physical infrastructure, the urbanisation and the utilities that are backing that up, we should begin to see healthier populations.”