Jigawa govt warns resident against open defecation

By Bisola Adeyemo

The residents of Gwaram Local Government Area of Jigawa State have been strictly warned to shun the bad habit of open defecation to avoid the spread of cholera and other related diseases in the environment.

The warning was issued by the Local Government Primary Health Care manager who was represented by Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) coordinator, Mahmuda Hamza, during the official distribution of preventive materials to victims of cholera by the Save the Children International (SCl) at Kwandiko Ward primary health care facility, Daily post reports.

According to him, over 30 people, mainly children, have reported dead while about 100 cases have been recorded within one month as a result of open defecation at Kwandiko communities alone.

“When people defecate in an open environment, during a raining season most of the water sources become contaminated.

“As a result, the water people use for drinking and other day-to-day activities became contaminated which subsequently resulted in cholera outbreak and other diseases,” he said.

Muhammad Waziri Abubakar, Save the Children International, SCl, a representative said the intervention include the supply of medical consumables and community-based interventions to the affected families.

Jigawa State has recorded over 20,000 cases of cholera, leading to the death of over 500 people in 15 local governments.