FCT Activates Cholera Emergency Operations Centre Amid Nationwide Outbreak Concerns
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The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has activated its Cholera Emergency Operations Centre as part of efforts to monitor and respond to the ongoing cholera outbreak in the region. This announcement was made by the Public Health Department on Thursday, following a spike in cholera cases nationwide.
Dr. Baba Gana Adam, the Permanent Secretary of the FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, emphasized the urgency of the activation, noting that the FCT, as an emerging city, is particularly vulnerable to cholera. He assured that the Secretariat would allocate all necessary resources to prevent an outbreak and directed that relevant stakeholders collaborate to develop effective strategies.
To facilitate this cooperation, the FCT Public Health Department held a Cholera Update meeting with key stakeholders to discuss the current situation, identify high-risk areas, and clarify each party’s roles in managing the outbreak.
During the meeting, Acting Director of the FCT Public Health Department, Dan Gadzama, reported that the FCT had recently documented 32 suspected cholera cases, including three laboratory-confirmed cases and eight confirmed through Rapid Diagnostic Tests. This prompted the establishment of the Emergency Operations Centre to avert further spread.
Gadzama outlined several preventive measures already in place, including identifying high-risk areas, public education campaigns, healthcare worker training, and the formation of a Cholera Incident Management team. He highlighted the infectious nature of cholera, caused by the Vibrio cholerae bacterium, which spreads through contaminated food, water, and feces. He stressed the importance of addressing environmental factors in cholera control, noting the involvement of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board.
FCT State Epidemiologist, Dr. Lawal Ademola, pointed out that cholera is primarily linked to inadequate access to clean drinking water, poor sanitation, and food hygiene. He reiterated the shared responsibility of government, individuals, and communities in implementing preventive measures.
With two confirmed cases in the FCT, Dr. Ademola indicated that the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre is now actively responding and will continue public awareness campaigns on cholera prevention and early detection, alongside other diseases like Mpox.
Key stakeholders involved in managing the cholera situation include the World Health Organization, the FCT Primary Health Care Board, the FCT Rural Water and Sanitation Agency, and the Water Sanitation and Hygiene sector.
As of October 13, 2024, a total of 14,237 cholera cases have been reported across 35 states and the FCT, affecting 339 local government areas, with a tragic toll of 378 lives lost and a case-fatality ratio of approximately 2.7 percent.
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