On Monday, the Nasarawa State Government reported 29 suspected cases of cholera in the Kokona and Nasarawa Eggon local government areas.
During the opening of a 3-day workshop on Reproductive, Maternal, and Child Health hosted by Rotary International in the Akwanga LGA, Commissioner for Health Gaza Gwamna provided details on the situation. He mentioned that Kokona LGA recorded 19 suspected cases, while Nasarawa Eggon LGA reported 10 cases over the past few weeks. Unfortunately, one patient from Nasarawa Eggon LGA died while receiving treatment.
Gwamna noted, “The patient who died in Nasarawa Eggon had symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting, but there was no confirmation that it was due to cholera. We can only confirm cholera through laboratory tests.”
He emphasized that cholera symptoms can mimic those of other illnesses, and not all diarrhoea cases are cholera. “Some patients with diarrhoea are currently hospitalized, but cholera has not been confirmed in these cases. However, our healthcare workers are closely monitoring them.”
Gwamna expressed gratitude to Rotary International for organizing the workshop and encouraged participants to take the training seriously to better report on health issues affecting women and children in the state.
Toyosi Adebambo, the Project Manager of Rotary International’s Reproductive, Maternal, and Child Health initiative, explained that the 3-day workshop, titled “Together For Healthy Families In Nigeria,” aims to enhance the skills of media practitioners in effectively reporting on RMCH-related issues.
“We expect that by the end of the workshop, journalists will be able to provide accurate and informative reports on RMCH interventions and create a network of advocates who will continue to promote RMCH discussions in the media,” Adebambo added.
