Since December 2022, Zamfara State has grappled with a growing health crisis. One thousand one hundred eighty-eight cholera cases and 50 diphtheria cases have been reported across all 14 local government areas.
Dr Aishatu Anka, the State's Commissioner for Health, recently shared this concerning update while distributing medical supplies at the Shagari Cholera Treatment Centre in Gusau.
Cholera has notably affected Gusau, Anka, Bakura, and Bukkuyum local government areas. Governor Dauda Lawan has personally visited patients at Anka General Hospital, and Anka herself has been at the Shagari Cholera Treatment Centre to assess the patient's response to treatment.
Sadly, out of the 1188 cholera cases reported, 40 individuals have died. Additionally, 50 cases of diphtheria have emerged, resulting in two fatalities. Authorities are actively investigating the extent of the disease's spread.
Dr Anka commended the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention for establishing a state centre at Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital in Gusau. She urged communities to prioritise environmental cleanliness and practice effective personal hygiene. Anka also stressed the importance of consuming only clean water, as this measure would significantly help contain the further spread of these diseases.
