Following the recent outbreak of cholera in Borno State, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund on Tuesday donated response kits valued at N113m to the state Ministry of Health.
Presenting the items at the Central Medical Store in Maiduguri, the state capital, the Deputy Representative of UNICEF Nigeria, Dr Rownak Khan said UNICEF is committed to helping the Nigerian government, particularly Borno State to prevent and protect victims of cholera disease.
“I am very pleased to announce that I am handing over 30 Acute Water Diarrhoea (90 units), and 50 beds to the Borno State Government. We will be working hand-in-hand as we progress and continue our support. In terms of monetary, it is valued at 69,075 US dollars which is equivalent to N113. 2m.
“This oral cholera vaccine that came. It was a joint effort between the government and the partner. So UNICEF is one of the partners. We also have other partners who also put a lot of efforts to bring the cholera vaccine to Nigeria. Meanwhile, as you rightly mentioned, we have now delivered 300,000 dosages of cholera vaccine and those vaccines have already been administered, or like, you know, it’s an oral vaccine, so they were put in mouth. Now we are also bringing other additional doses. As I was coming here, I also came to know that some additional doses of about 600,000 are also coming”
“My heartfelt thank you to the government of Nigeria, because they are the leading agency, but also to the other partner as well,” Khan said
She however urged the media to assist UNICEF in its cholera response strategy.
” I am urging the media to help us by featuring how cholera can be spread and how it can be prevented so that people have more information,” she said.
Responding, the Special Adviser to the Borno State Governor on Health, Abubakar Hassan, appreciated UNICEF for the donation saying, “Exactly four days ago, the commissioner formally declared the outbreak of cholera in Borno State in four local governments to be specific.
“Today, UNICEF has already mobilised, procured and donated essential components of case management totalling more than N113m at today’s rate. The state government has found in UNICEF a strong, reliable and ever cooperative partner.
“As the name goes, UNICEF has children, education and so many other links under its operation. Paradoxically, the young age and also the old ones have already succumbed to the infection. For that reason, having this critical equipment is very important. Let me on behalf of the governor Babagana Zulum, staff and management of the Ministry of Health under the leadership of the commissioner, Baba Gana and the good people of Borno state to formally say thank you.”
The state Ministry of Health had announced that about 450 suspected cholera cases have been reported in five local government areas of the state with 128 RTD positive and 17 cultures positive for vibrio cholera following the recent flooding that ravaged the state capital and environs.
The affected Local government in the state are MMC, Jere, Konduga, Mafa and Mongono. (Punch)