From Jude Dangwam, Jos

Following the rise in the cases of choral outbreak in Bokkos local government area of Plateau State, the United Nations Children’s Education Fund(UNICEF) has moved in to support the state government in her bit to curbed the spread of the cholera outbreak in the troubled local government area of the state.

The Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office Dr. Nuzhat Rafique who was on an inspection visit to the cholera treatment centre located at the Cottage Hospital Bokkos town in Bokkos local government area of Plateau said she was in the state and the local government to assessed the condition of treatments of victims and support government at all level to furth curb the spread of the disease. Dr. Rafique stated this during her visit to Bokkos local government area of Plateau State to assess the condition of the health facility to further complement the efforts of other organisations who are on ground trying to control the outbreak from spreading.She said cholera is a serious threat to public health especially among children and promised to step in the gaps identified in the area of some consumables, protective equipment, setting up of tents to further accommodate more victims considering the little space seen at the centre.The Chief Field Officer called for collaborative efforts adding that UNICEF is ever ready to collaborate with all organisations that are in the state as well as Bokkos local government area in ensuring that the disease doesn’t spread to other local government areas of the state.The Matron of the General Hospital Bokkos, Saratu Felix lamented the increasing cases of the cholera outbreak and called for immediate support in the areas of personal protective equipment (PPE) among others.”We need water here, we need fluids, we need hand sanitiser, we need facemasks, we need PPEs, and staff strength.” She startedThe World Health Organization (WHO) Local Government Facilitator rapid response team led by Lucy Pam Dagyang said most of the consumables are finished at the treatment centre.She disclosed that the early cases were discovered at a private hospital linked to a source of water, “The rapid response team of WHO have been on ground, the first index case was linked to a river where both humans and animals do use it after we took samples, and the index case died before our arrival.”So, when we were called upon we had to activate an awareness campaign, reach out to various private healthcare facilities and ensure that we mopped up all those who were stooling to one place which is the cottage hospital.The State Epidemiology and Disease Control Centre where the state Epidemiologist/Incident Manager Dr. Maren Damala said the state had 37 cases out of which three moralities were recorded.He expressed concerns on poor manpower in the healthcare sector and the need for urgent measures to strengthen the fight against the cholera outbreak in the state.The Director of Administration State Primary Healthcare Board Mr. Michael Denis Kamu representing the Executive Secretary of the Board disclosed that they have since written a proposal for the employment of 4774 personnel to further complement the few workers as well as strengthen the healthcare system at the rural level.The Bokkos Council Secretary Hon. Gambo Malau expressed gratitude to UNICEF and other organisations for coming to the aid of the local government, adding that the gesture has gone a long way in saving more lives in the council area.