By Ahmed Liman kingimi
In a bid to combat the ongoing cholera outbreak in Borno State, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has generously donated essential cholera response kits valued at 113 million Naira.
The donation, which includes 30 Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) kits, 90 units of cholera response items, and 50 cholera beds, was handed over to the Borno State Ministry of Health by UNICEF’s Deputy Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Rownak Khan.
The outbreak was declared by the Honourable Commissioner of Health and Humanitarian Services on October 4th, 2024, with over 450 suspected cholera cases reported in the state.
Affected areas include Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC), Jere, Konduga, Mafa, and Monguno. Fortunately, no deaths have been recorded thus far.
UNICEF’s response efforts in Borno State encompass a wide range of activities such as hygiene promotion, water supply, vaccination, and sanitation measures.
Over 13,750 individuals in various IDP camps have benefited from the installation of emergency latrines, with additional hygiene and cholera kits distributed to households.
Moreover, UNICEF has provided safe water supply to 43,689 people across multiple IDP camps through emergency water trucking and borehole rehabilitation.
The organization has also supplied 300,000 cholera vaccine doses to Borno State, with 290,000 individuals in high-risk areas already vaccinated.
To further enhance surveillance and case detection, UNICEF has deployed 54 health technicians and support staff in the camps.
The organization remains actively involved in the coordination and implementation of the state’s cholera response action plan in collaboration with the Borno State Public Health Emergency Operation Centre.