“The death occurred out of 726 cases on ground.”
The Sokoto State Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Abdullahi Maigwandu, yesterday said, thirteen persons have died from gastroenteritis within the last two weeks in the state.
Maigwandu said the outbreak was located in six local government areas of Gwadabawa, Rabah, Wurno, Goronyo, Dange/Shuni and Tambuwal.
He said thirteen patients died on Friday Sept. 2 out of 726 related cases, adding that the casualties were males and female’s adults as well as children.
“The situation had, however, been brought under total control as only seven patients were on admission at Silame village in Gwadabawa local government as at Friday (Sept. 2),” he said. “We are not resting on our oars, however, as our medical teams are still operating with those of the various local governments and Medicines Sans Frontiers (MSF) or Doctors Without Borders to completely mop up the cases.’’
Maigwandu attributed the cause of death to the consumption of contaminated water and food. He stressed the need for government to provide clean water to the people, especially those in the grassroots where the problem is endemic.
“That was why we appealed to the state government to sink a borehole for the Lukuyawa community in Gwadabawa local government and it was instantly approved by Governor Aliyu Wamakko,’’ he said.
Maigwandu advised the people to boil their water before consumption as well as keeping their environment clean .
-By Vincent Ehiabhi
Source: DailyTimes
