By Anayo Akwitti
The Northern Senators Forum (NSF) expresses deep sorrow over the death of 37 people in the ongoing cholera outbreak in Borno State and called for urgent intervention by the Federal Government to prevent further spread of the disease.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Chairman of the Forum, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’adua, commiserates with the Borno State Government and residents affected by the outbreak, while extending heartfelt condolences to families who lost loved ones.
He prays for the repose of the deceased, saying, “May the Almighty Allah grant the departed eternal rest and give their families the fortitude to bear this painful loss.”
The Forum says it was deeply concerned by reports indicating that more than 3,000 cholera cases have been recorded across seven local government areas of the state, with Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) and Jere Local Government Area accounting for the highest number of infections.
According to Senator Yar’adua, the reported one per cent case fatality rate and the growing pressure on healthcare facilities underscore the severity of the public health crisis.
Describing the situation as a serious emergency, the NSF urges the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), to work closely with the Borno State Government to contain the outbreak.
The Forum called for the immediate deployment of emergency medical support, including NCDC rapid response teams, healthcare personnel, intravenous fluids, oral rehydration salts (ORS), and essential antibiotics to overwhelmed treatment centres.
It also advocates for the accelerated rollout of oral cholera vaccines to the worst-hit areas, including MMC, Jere, Mafa, Konduga, Monguno, Ngala, and Magumeri, with priority attention given to internally displaced persons (IDP) camps and flood-prone communities.
The senators further stresses the need to strengthen Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) interventions by providing access to safe drinking water, water treatment tablets, and improved sanitation facilities.
The Forum also called for intensified campaigns against open defecation and indiscriminate waste disposal, warning that the rainy season could worsen contamination and accelerate the spread of the disease.
In addition, it urged health authorities to scale up public awareness campaigns on hand hygiene, safe food handling, and the importance of early presentation at health facilities when symptoms appear.
The NSF commends the efforts of the Borno State Ministry of Health and development partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), for their ongoing response to the outbreak.
The Forum, however, stressed the need for greater federal support and resources to contain the disease before it escalates further during the peak of the rainy season.
