Economic Confidential, January, 2009

NEWS

NEMA Mobilises Against Spread Cholera and Meningitis in Nigeria

Reported cases from Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Niger and Benue    

Following reports of possible outbreak of Cholera and Cerebrospinal Meningitis in some parts of the country, the National Emergency Management Agency is collaborating with Health Ministry and other stakeholders has taken steps to prevent the spread of the diseases. It also advised the public not to panic but adopt precautionary measures to avoid the epidemic.

Director General of NEMA AVM Mohammed Audu-Bida (Rtd) said the epidemic is avoidable with proper ventilation, proper hygiene and healthy lifestyle in the dry heat season. He advised the people not to be overcrowded in tight rooms.

Speaking when he received in his office a delegation from the Federal Ministry of Health, one of the stakeholders in disaster management in Nigeria, led by the Director Public Health Professor Abdulsalam Nasidi, said the agency has mobilised in response to the alert as its zonal offices has commenced sensitization against the disease.

Audu Bida said the Cholera and Cerebro Spinal Meningitis in some states as a result of global warming may not abate for now considering the likely high temperatures witnessed in the country and ten yearly circles of these epidemics.

The agency has also drawn the attention of the state governors to set a motion, relevant machineries at their disposal to mobilise all primary health care centres in their states gto embark on the early sensitization campaign and programmes targeted at those vulnerable communities that are prone to the epidemics.

He advised the people to report any abnormal sickness to the nearest health facilities and called on the media and community leaders to assist in the sensitization, particularly at the grassroots.He said the state government should create public awareness campaign against the spread of the diseases which had rampage some African countries in the recent time.

Earlier, the delegation from the health ministry had informed the DG NEMA that the disease have been suspected to have already broken out in parts of Ebonyi, Niger, Nassarawa and Benue states.

The Ministry of Health had alerted of the possible break out of the disease in parts of the country, particularly in the states along Nigeria-Niger boarder following reports of the epidemics in the neighbouring country.

Professor Nasidi informed the Director General that the Ministry of Health has warned of the possibility of an outbreak of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis in certain parts of the country. The alert was issued based on information available to the ministry about the outbreak of the disease in Zinder Region of Niger Republic where reported cases of infection and death were reported.

As a major agency in disaster management and emergency control, NEMA is collaborating with Federal Ministry of Health and other stakeholders in creating public awareness and raising public consciousness to control and prevent the spread of the disease which is already rampaging some neighbouring countries.

All health personnel and emergency official have been mobilised to attend to reported cases while calling on all Nigerians to be on alert and report any trace and incidence of the outbreak to relevant health authorities.