Gombe Government Urges Cholera Prevention During Rainy Season
By Laraba Usman
The Gombe State Ministry of Health has urged residents to step up measures to prevent cholera as the rainy season reaches its peak, warning that contaminated water and food could increase the risk of outbreaks.
Dr. Nuhu Bile, an epidemiologist with the Gombe State Ministry of Health, gave the warning in an interview with Jewel Post.
He said the rainy season usually coincided with an increase in cholera cases in the state because water sources can easily become contaminated.
Dr. Bile explained that cholera is transmitted through the faecal-oral route when bacteria from human waste contaminate food or water and are ingested.
According to him, the main symptoms of cholera include sudden and severe diarrhoea and vomiting, which can quickly lead to severe dehydration.
“Cholera is one of the diseases that is prone to outbreaks. It can result in outbreaks if it is not properly controlled,” Bile said.
He urged residents to maintain good food and water hygiene, particularly when handling foods eaten raw, such as lettuce and cabbage.
Dr. Bile said such foods could become contaminated when rainwater carries faecal matter from the ground into water sources.
He advised residents without access to safe drinking water to boil and sieve their water before consumption, urging people to wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating them.
The state epidemiologist said health authorities were mapping cholera hotspots to identify communities at higher risk of outbreaks.
He said the government was distributing Aquatabs, chlorine-based water purification tablets and chlorine powder to help disinfect water sources and household water supplies.
Dr. Bile urged residents to work closely with primary healthcare facilities in their local government areas, saying health workers can provide information and supplies to help prevent cholera.
He also advised residents to take preventive measures seriously throughout the peak of the rainy season to reduce the risk of cholera outbreaks.
Malaria Risk
Dr. Bile also warned that malaria cases tend to increase during the rainy season because stagnant water provides breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
He urged residents to prevent mosquitoes from entering their homes by keeping doors and windows closed at night or by installing proper screens, while advising people to sleep under insecticide-treated mosquito nets.
“Anyone who develops symptoms of malaria should visit the nearest health facility for proper testing and treatment,” he said.
