By Suzan Edeh, Bauchi
The WaterAid Nigeria in collaboration with the Sanitation and Hygiene Fund and patners has trained Readiness Response teams in 12 local government areas of Bauchi state on combating Cholera outbreaks in their areas.
The objective of the training aims at establishing coordinated monitoring teams at the Local government level to response to Cholera outbreak as well as equip the participants with the knowledge and skill on how to manage an outbreak in their respective areas.
The Readiness Response teams on Cholera were drawn from 12 LGA areas to include Alkaleri, Bauchi, Dass, Gamawa, Giade, Misau, Itas-Gadau, Ningi, Tafawa Balewa, Jama’are, Toro, and Zaki.The LGAs have been identified as high risk with cholera issues, making the training crucial in preventing further outbreaks.
The participants at the training include Health Authority Officers at the state and local governments level, LGA Disease Surveillance and Notification officers, WASH Officers at the LGA level, Health Experts, International Health Organizations and other patners.
An Epidemiologist from the Bauchi Primary healthcare Development Agency, Benjamin Gandi while giving an overview on Cholera, said that globally, an estimated 4 million Cholera cases and over 140,000 deaths are reported annually, adding that in 2017 alone, over 150,000 Cholera cases, including 3,000 deaths representing a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 2.3% were reported from 17 countries in the African Region.
He said that more than more than 90% of the cases were from six high-burden countries with Nigeria leading, pointing out that the situation raises concern about the potential increase of the Cholera burden, including large-scale outbreaks in big cities.
According to him, in the year 2024, from week 36-48, a total of 1,792 cases were admitted at the Cholera Treatment Centre(CTC) and Cholera Treatment Unit(CTU), out of which 376 were admitted at the Bauchi CTU and 1,416 were admitted at the CTC Giade with a total number of 8 deaths.
“Cholera cases were reported from 17 LGAs out of the 20 LGAs. Cumulatively, Giade LGA was the epic centre of the disease with 51.7 % (1,131) Cholera cases, followed by Shira LGA with 254 cases (22.4%). 986 (51.2%) of the cases were female while males were 938 (48.8%).Most of the ages were 5-40 years and comparatively, the case has zero case 2023 when compared to the 1,792 reported so far in 2024″he said
Also Speaking at the training, Dr Damar Yusuf, Surveillance Officer with World Health Organization (WHO) stated that Cholera surveillance generates information to guide an effective response to reduce the number of Cholera cases and deaths and limit the spread of the disease.
According to him, depending on the Cholera situation in an area, the surveillance objective evolve in geographical areas without an outbreak, that is, surveillance is for the early detection of any new outbreak for rapid response.
Other surveillance objectives according to him, include geographical areas with an outbreak that is not widespread, that is, surveillance is to track clusters to stop transmission with targeted interventions while surveillance will also evolve around areas with an outbreak, that is, surveillance is to monitor the outbreak to guide the response.
Also Speaking at the training, the Executive Chairman, Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Rilwanu Muhammed said that the training was timely for the stakeholders considering the fact that the rainy season which trigger flood usually comes with some health challenges including Cholera.
He said that already, the health agency in the state, has already established Rapid Response Teams at the LGA level to curtail any outbreak of Cholera in the state and called on Health Authorities officers at the LGA level to be vigilant and ensure that they record cases of Cholera at the LGA for proper documentation at the State level.