Cholera kills 500 in Jigawa in 4 months

Cholera killed about 500 persons and infected 20,000 others in Jigawa State between June and September.

Executive Secretary of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Kabiru Ibrahim, disclosed this Thursday during the flag-off of cholera vaccination exercise in Baranda Health Centre on the outskirts of Dutse, the state capital.

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He said the exercise, carried out in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, was aimed at curbing the spread of the disease.

Ibrahim said the state has received 1.4 million doses of the cholera vaccine and that the agency was targeting 720,000 persons for the vaccination exercise.

He explained that every eligible person required two dosages of the vaccine within the period of three months.

He said the exercise would be carried out in three local government areas of Dutse, Birnin Kudu and Hadejia.

“People from ages one and above are eligible for the vaccination and will be administered at designated health facilities and other selected public places for accessibility,” he said.

Dr Ibrahim assured the public of the safety and reliability of the vaccine, adding that the state government had provided enough trained manpower and equipment required for the success of the exercise.

The Emir of Dutse, Dr. Nuhu Muhammadu Sunusi, urged the residents to get vaccinated against cholera.