THE official report of 352 deaths in eight weeks, resulting from the 6,437 cases of cholera attacks in 11 states of the country, mostly in the North-west and North-east zones, cuts a grim picture of helpless masses deprived a basic need (potable water) by insensitive leadership at all levels. Given the epidemic nature the disease has assumed in the past few weeks, the Federal Ministry of Health’s admission that epidemiological evidence indicates the entire country is at risk is frightening. This warning should therefore rally the hitherto unaffected states to act fast against any possible spread that might likely increase the country’s health woes.
Although the authorities, with the aid of agencies like Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders, rushed technical and material support to the affected states of Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, Borno, Adamawa, Taraba, FCT, Kaduna, Cross River and Rivers to ameliorate the incidence, the yearly recurrence of cholera attack across the country underscores the failure of the primary health care system generally, coupled with the low standard of hygiene as well as widespread ignorance among sections of the populace. The trend is disturbing. (In the last quarter of 2009 alone, 260 deaths in four northern states were attributed to cholera)….
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