Kebbi tackling outbreak of diarrhoea

Kebbi State is at present faced with the outbreak of diarrhoea. The water-borne disease within three weeks of its outbreak has spread to about eight local government areas of the state. Over 29 people have been confirmed dead while unconfirmed report puts the total number of those who died at 68. Not less than 20 […]

Kebbi State is at present faced with the outbreak of diarrhoea. The water-borne disease within three weeks of its outbreak has spread to about eight local government areas of the state. Over 29 people have been confirmed dead while unconfirmed report puts the total number of those who died at 68.

Not less than 20 people are said to have died as the disease spread to Tungar Buzu, Korama,  Samanaji , Gwadangwaji and Keri communities in Shanga, Birnin Kebbi, Fakai and Koko/Besse local government areas of the state last week.

In Shanga Local Government Area alone, over 200 people were said to have suffered from the gastroenteritis attack as it spreads to four of its communities – Keri, Waiwayi, Tafkitara and Sangara – and 10 people were said to have died from excessive passing of stool and vomiting.  

Also at Korama in Faki Local Government Area of the state, more than 10 adults and 40 children were reported dead from diarrhoea outbreak in the area.

Last week Monday, a 14-year-old girl, Maryam Umar, died as a result of excessive passing of stool and vomiting at Tungar Buzu a neighbouring community to Kardi. The deceased’s elder brother, Muhammed Umar, said they were taking his sister to the hospital in Birnin Kebbi shortly after she started passing of stool and vomiting but she died on the way. “She only came to celebrate Sallah with us when she contacted the disease,” he said.

Abdullahi Usman, a resident of Korama told our correspondent that there was palpable fear among the locals as more people continued to suffer from the disease. He said “Amai da zawo (vomiting and passing of stool has been killing people in our community for nearly a month now. It has claimed more than 10 adults and about 40 children.”

At Kardi area of Birnin Kebbi, unconfirmed reports had put the dead figures at over 40 but the Community Health Officer, Abdulkarim Abubakar in charge of the Primary Health Care said they only recorded three deaths from the 160 patients admitted at the PHC. 

He said five people whose cases were serious were referred to Sir Yahaya Specialist Hospital in Birnin Kebbi while 147 others have been discharged from the PHC after they were treated.

Usman added that government was aware of the diarrhoea outbreak in Fakai area and had sent some of its officials and medical supplies to the community to tackle the spread of the epidemic.

 “I think combating the spread of the disease and preventing further loss of lives requires more medical supplies and stronger team of medical experts to this area,” he said.

The local government authorities in some of the affected communities such as Birnin Kebbi, Fakai, Shanga, Koko/Besse and others have taken measures to curb the spread of the disease. 

In Shanga, the local government chairman, Aminu Muhammad Arzika, last week donated N900,000 for the procurement of drugs to treat those affected by the disease in the area. 

Also, a member of the state house of assembly from the area, Muhammad Tukur Giron Masa, donated N50,000 for the purchase of drugs. 

The authorities of Birnin Kebbi Local Government have delivered drugs worth N350,000 to the PHC at Kardi and Gwadangwaji where some of those suffering from the disease were receiving treatment.

During his visit to the PHC at Kardi, the local government vice chairman, Alhaji Usman Ibrahim, expressed his sympathies to the families of those who lost their lives. “We feel sad over the deaths so far recorded,” he said.

He called on people in the affected areas to avoid self-medication and maintain clean environment.

He said the local government responded quickly in view of the gravity of the situation. The Director of Health in the local government, Nura Hassan, has urged people in the affected communities to keep their surroundings clean. 

He advised them to construct local latrines and stop defecating in their surroundings.