We’re proactive about preventing cholera outbreaks — Abia Govt.

The Abia government says it is taking proactive measures to prevent the outbreak of cholera in the state.

Dr. Kalu Kalu, Executive Secretary, Abia State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ASPHDA), disclosed this in an interview with the newsmen in Umuahia on Wednesday.

Kalu said that part of the measures was the agency’s insistence on the promotion of public hygiene and environmental sanitation across the state.

According to him, the agency is also working with relevant stakeholders to strengthen the campaign for the prevention of cholera outbreaks in the state.

He said that cholera, as a faecal-oral disease, could be spread through the contamination of water or food with the faeces of an infected person.

The ASPHDA official also said that cholera could be considered a waterborne disease because contaminated water remained a common vector for its transmission.

Kalu urged residents of the state to only drink water from safe sources and cautioned food vendors against selling contaminated food to members of the public.

“I can tell you that as a state, we are on top of the situation; our target is not torecord any single case of cholera.

“This is the reason we have kick-started a robust sensitization campaign. Our health workers are taking advantage of every opportunity to educate people on how to prevent the disease.

“Our jingles are already running; fliers and posters are out. Health talks are ongoing at health facilities across the state.

“We shall use town announcers to reach out to the hinterlands. We must imbibe the habit of personal hygiene; we must avoid eating foods that are not well-washed,” he said.