Connect with us

News

Cholera outbreak: Nigeria runs out of vaccine as death toll hits 40

Published

on

Spread the love
As the death toll from the latest cholera outbreak hits 40, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control says the country does not have enough vaccines. According to the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr Jide Idris, Nigeria has placed an order for more cholera vaccines from donor agencies, even though the date of delivery is still unknown.

The NCDC boss stressed the need for the country to embrace the use of vaccines and other preventive measures to curb the spread of the acute diarrhoeal infection.

Cholera is a food and water-borne disease caused by the ingestion of the bacterium, Vibrio cholerae, in contaminated water and food.

Cholera kills 4,364 in four years

No fewer than 4,364 people have died out of the 139,730 Nigerians suspected to have been infected with the disease across the country in the last four years, an investigation by Saturday PUNCH has indicated. The incidence rate was derived from an analysis of the weekly cholera situation reports released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control between 2021 and 2024.

Recall that the NCDC recently alerted the public to the increasing trend of cholera cases across the country as the rainy season intensifies. In a statement signed by Idris on Thursday, June 13, 2024, the agency said that from January 1 to June 11, 2024, a total of 1,141 suspected cases, 65 confirmed cases, and 30 deaths from cholera had been reported from 96 local government areas in 30 states of the federation.

The NCDC listed the 10 states that contributed 90 per cent to the burden of cholera as Bayelsa, Zamfara, Abia, Cross River, Bauchi, Delta, Katsina, Imo, Nasarawa, and Lagos. As of then, the Lagos State Ministry of Health said it had recorded 350 suspected cases of the disease in 29 wards across multiple LGAs with 17 confirmed cases and 15 fatalities attributed to severe dehydration caused by delayed presentation.

However, on Friday, the state Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, said the cholera incidence rate in the state had risen to 417 suspected cases, and 35 confirmed cases, with 24 deaths.

In a post made on his Instagram handle on Friday afternoon, Abayomi said, “The situation report as of June 19, 2024, indicated 417 suspected cases, 35 confirmed cases, and 24 recorded deaths.”

Advertisement

“Let’s adhere strictly to personal and environmental hygiene. Let’s stay safe #ForAGreaterLagos.”

He said the cases were reported from the Agege, Badagry, Ikeja, Mushin, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Epe, Ikorodu, Ojo, Alimosho, and Eti-Osa areas of the state.

Others he mentioned include Kosofe, Oshodi-Isolo, Amuwo-Odofin, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos Island, Shomolu, Apapa, Ifako-Ijaiye, Lagos Mainland, and Surulere.

Also, the Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, told our correspondent on Thursday that the state had recorded one death and 14 cases.

This implies that in the last 12 days, the incidence rate of the disease in the country for this year had hit 1,222 suspected cases, 88 confirmed cases, and 40 fatalities.

The NCDC, however, stated that a multi-sectoral National Cholera Technical Working Group, led by the centre and comprising the Federal Ministries of Environment and Water Resources, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, the World Health Organisation, the United Nations Children’s Fund, and other partners, had been providing support to the affected states.

With the latest incidence rate from Ogun and Lagos, investigations by Saturday PUNCH showed that a total of 4,364 deaths had been recorded out of the 139,730 people suspected to have been infected by the disease across the country since 2021.

Going by one of the NCDC’s cholera situation reports for week 52, there were a total of 111,062 suspected cases of the disease with 3,604 deaths across 435 local government areas in 34 states of the federation in 2021.

Advertisement

Another Cholera Week 52 report published by the NCDC and analysed by our correspondent revealed that in 2022, the country recorded 23,763 suspected cases with 592 deaths across 271 LGs in 33 states of the federation.

In 2023, there was a reduction in the incidence rate of the disease as the country recorded 3,683 suspected cases with 128 deaths across 166 LGs in 31 states of the country.

The prevalence rate of the disease further went down in 2024 with 1,141 suspected cases and 30 deaths recorded across 84 LGs in 30 states of the federation.

There were 473,000 cholera cases reported to the World Health Organisation in 2022, which was a 100 per cent increase compared to the rate reported to the global health organisation in 2021.

More so, a further increase in cases by 700,000 was estimated in 2023, while the latest data from the WHO showed that a cumulative total of 145,900 cholera cases and 1,766 deaths had been reported from 24 countries across five WHO regions.

In the latest global rate, Africa recorded the highest numbers, followed by the Eastern Mediterranean region, the region of the Americas, the South-East Asia region, and the European region.

However, speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the NCDC boss said while it is the National Primary Health Care Development Agency that is dealing with the issue of cholera vaccines, he is aware that the health minister has requested more vaccines from donor agencies.

“I know that the minister has requested more vaccines. But, I don’t know when they will come, because other countries also make requests internationally. I know that when they come, NPHCDA will decide how to distribute or use them.

Advertisement

“We don’t have enough to prevent an outbreak, because we need to give these things before that time. The problem is that to get vaccines, we need to plan ahead, and we don’t have the funds. Most countries plan ahead. When it comes to health security, we are supposed to stockpile some things in anticipation of an emergency.

“We don’t manufacture vaccines. We get them from donor agencies, just like any other country does. Whatever they supply will not be enough for us to use and in any case, it doesn’t give long-lasting immunity, so it has to be a combination of all control measures.

“The minister has requested support for these vaccines. He told me that last week. When they will come, I don’t know. However, we don’t necessarily have to rely on all those things if we can adopt other control measures,” the NCDC boss said.

Dr Idris also noted that the demand for cholera vaccines outpaces supply, adding that to consistently have adequate vaccines to curb diseases, the nation must plan ahead. He also stressed that Nigeria must embrace a combination of preventive measures to curb cholera outbreak, noting that cholera vaccines are not long-lasting.

“Cholera vaccine demand is far ahead of supply so most people who need them place orders and plan ahead. It is the same thing with all vaccines, not just cholera.

“We also know that cholera vaccines are not long-lasting. They only work for some time, so a combination of vaccines where necessary and all other preventive measures are the mainstay of the effort to curb the infection.

“The mainstay is to treat people if they are dehydrated, so they can replace lost fluids, maintain personal, environmental and sanitary hygiene, etc. We talk about boiling water before eating, washing hands after using the toilet, and before and after preparing food. If anybody suspects contamination, they should boil water before drinking and using it. It is a combination of all these preventive measures that will go a long way in helping to curb the outbreak,” Idris said.

Also speaking during a recent programme on Channels Television, the NCDC Director General had said that prevention was key in fighting the disease in Nigeria.

Advertisement

Idris noted that as the rainy season intensified, there were possibilities of increasing cases of cholera in the country. He said, “The Nigerian Meteorological Agency has said that the rains this year are going to be heavier, and when you have rains, you’re going to have floods, and this leads to contamination of our water sources. So, the chances are that cholera cases will increase.”

The DG, who blamed the outbreak of the infection on poor sanitation, personal and environmental hygiene, and lack of access to clean water, noted that the agency was conducting a risk assessment, and had alerted all the states about the outbreak. He said the state governments must ensure access to clean water and toilets for their citizens. (Saturday PUNCH)

Advertisements
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Governor’s wife sprays US dollars at wedding ceremony

Published

on

Footage of Katsina State First Lady Fatima Dikko Radda spraying dollars
Spread the love

A widely circulated video on social media has stirred controversy, showing Katsina State’s First Lady, Hajiya Fatima Dikko Radda, allegedly spraying U.S. dollars at an event.

The footage, primarily shared on Instagram, has sparked criticism, with many questioning the insensitivity of such an act in a state grappling with terrorism, kidnapping, poverty, and a high number of out-of-school children.

The video, which lasts one minute and nine seconds, was shared with a caption condemning the First Lady’s actions, labeling them as reckless and immoral. Given the dire socio-economic situation in Katsina, the accompanying text expressed outrage over the act.

PRNigeria, a leading Fact-Check platform in Nigeria, conducted a thorough investigation to verify the authenticity of the claims.

Footage of Katsina State First Lady Fatima Dikko Radda spraying dollars

The fact-checking process involved analysing the video and cross-referencing it with another clip showing Fatima Radda at a separate event, where she was donating ?2 million for cervical cancer screening in the state.

The analysis revealed a strong resemblance between the First Lady in both videos, confirming her presence at the wedding.

Furthermore, PRNigeria examined the background music in the controversial video, where praise singers could be heard extolling Fatima Radda in Hausa, reinforcing that the event was a family gathering.

PRNigeria performed a reverse image search using Yandex to further validate the claim and segmented the video for detailed scrutiny.

These steps confirmed that the video was indeed from a wedding that took place on Saturday, January 25, 2025, in Katsina.

Advertisement

Additional keyword searches and independent sources corroborated these findings.

Based on extensive fact-checking, PRNigeria has verified that Katsina State’s First Lady, Hajiya Fatima Dikko Radda, did spray dollars at her sibling’s wedding.

This confirmation has fueled further public discourse about the appropriateness of such actions, especially given the economic challenges faced by many citizens in the state.

The revelation has reignited debates about the display of wealth by public officials and their families, raising questions about leadership sensitivity in economically challenged regions. (By PRNigeria)

The Full Report: Fact-check: Did Katsina State’s First Lady, Fatima Radda, Spray Dollars at an Event? https://prnigeria.com/2025/02/13/katsina-first-lady-dollars/

Advertisements
Continue Reading

News

Anambra govt seals another church linked to Oke Ite practice in Nkpor

Published

on

Spread the love

The Anambra State government has taken a decisive step to combat the spread of illicit practices linked to ritualistic and fraudulent activities within religious spaces by sealing a controversial church in Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area.

The church, reportedly led by Pastor Onyebuchi Okocha, has been accused of engaging in activities associated with the dangerous and illegal practice known as “Oke Ite.”

This ritual, which has been tied to fraudulent schemes and human trafficking, was allegedly being conducted under the guise of religious worship.

Oke Ite, a term that refers to a concoction created by native doctors, is believed to be a form of ritual used for money rituals and other forms of spiritual manipulation. The concoction is typically prepared using human body parts, animal remains, and a mix of powerful herbs, all of which are combined in a mud pot. The practice is rooted in the belief that such rituals have the power to summon wealth or bestow significant financial rewards upon those who partake in them.

In recent years, Oke Ite has been exposed as a fraudulent practice, where unsuspecting customers, often in search of quick wealth, fall prey to native doctors and religious leaders who promise them unimaginable riches in exchange for performing ritualistic rites. Many of these practices are said to involve human sacrifice or the exploitation of vulnerable individuals, contributing to a growing problem of human trafficking and ritual killings in parts of Nigeria.

The Anambra State government, led by Governor Chukwuma Soludo, has been actively working to curb the prevalence of such fraudulent practices and restore order to the state’s religious and spiritual landscape. As part of this initiative, the government responded to reports of Oke Ite being performed in the ministry of Pastor Onyebuchi Okocha, which had raised dusts in the local community.

The closure of Pastor Okocha’s ministry in Amafor village, Nkpor, followed a thorough investigation launched by the Anambra State government.

The Special Adviser to Governor Soludo on Community Security, Ken Emeakayi, led a team of security personnel, including members of Operation Udo Ga-Achi, to the location to seal the premises.

Advertisement

The government’s decision to shut down the ministry was a response to a series of public petitions and disturbing revelations that came to light regarding Pastor Okocha’s activities.

Among these was a video circulating on social media, where the pastor, also known as “Aka na Asa Uchu” (translated as “the one who does things”), openly admitted to performing Oke Ite rituals.

The video, which featured Okocha speaking candidly about his involvement in the practice, triggered public outrage and prompted the government to take immediate action.

In his address to the press, Emeakayi explained that the closure was not an act of religious persecution but rather a necessary response to the dangerous and fraudulent activities taking place in the church.

He emphasized that the state government has no intention of infringing upon the rights of individuals to practice their religion but would not tolerate any practices that promote scams, deceit, and exploitation under the guise of spirituality.

As part of the government’s response, a full forensic investigation is underway to examine the contents and potential dangers of the liquids found in the ministry.

Emeakayi stated that the government would send samples of these liquids to forensic experts to determine their composition and assess any risks they may pose to public health and safety.

One of the most concerning elements of Pastor Okocha’s practice involved the use of a body of water known as River Bethsaida.

Advertisement

According to reports, the pastor had been using the river to perform rituals on individuals, which allegedly included bathing them naked.

The government has vowed to bring in environmental and health experts to examine the water and ascertain whether it poses a threat to those exposed to it. The concern over River Bethsaida stems from the possibility that the water may be contaminated with hazardous substances due to the rituals performed at the site.

While the church leader claimed that these practices were beneficial to his followers, there was no scientific evidence to support such claims. As a result, the government has made it clear that it will not tolerate any activities that put the health and well-being of the public at risk, especially when those involved are vulnerable or uninformed about the dangers.

The closure of the church has sparked mixed reactions from the local community and the wider public. Many residents of Nkpor and surrounding areas have expressed relief that the government has taken swift action to address the allegations of ritualistic practices.

Some have described the activities of Pastor Okocha as harmful, stating that they had long suspected that something was amiss but had been too afraid to speak out.

Others, however, have raised concerns about the potential negative impact on religious freedom in the region.

They argue that the state government should be cautious in its approach to policing religious practices and that the closure of the church may infringe on the rights of individuals to worship freely. They assert that there should be a clear distinction between legitimate religious practices and fraudulent activities masked as spirituality.

Nevertheless, many citizens are applauding the government’s stance against fraudulent religious practices, particularly those linked to the dangerous Oke Ite ritual. Some have called for more extensive measures to be taken to eradicate such practices, with some even urging the government to investigate other churches and ministries in the state that may be involved in similar activities.

Advertisement

The sealing of the church has underscored the importance of security agencies in the fight against ritualistic practices in Anambra State.

In recent months, the government has made significant strides in addressing security concerns, especially those involving ritual killings and other forms of violent crime linked to spiritual practices.

Ken Emeakai, in his role as the Special Adviser on Community Security, has been instrumental in organizing security operations to monitor and eliminate fraudulent religious practices.

Operation Udo Ga-Achi, the task force deployed to the site, has been actively involved in ensuring that these illegal activities are promptly investigated and halted.

The government’s approach has involved a combination of law enforcement, public awareness campaigns, and community engagement to tackle the root causes of these practices.

The decision to involve forensic experts in the investigation of River Bethsaida and the liquids found at the ministry highlights the government’s commitment to using science and technology in its efforts to address spiritual and health risks. By relying on expert analysis, the government hopes to provide definitive answers about the nature of the practices and the potential dangers they pose to public health.

The sealing of Pastor Okocha’s ministry is just one of the many steps the Anambra State government plans to take in its ongoing fight against fraudulent spiritual practices and rituals. While this incident highlights the growing problem of ritualistic crime, it also serves as a reminder of the need for continued vigilance and proactive measures to ensure that the safety and well-being of citizens are not compromised by unscrupulous individuals seeking to exploit their desperation for wealth and success.

Governor Soludo has called on members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities related to ritualistic practices. He emphasized the importance of community involvement in identifying and addressing such issues before they spiral out of control. Additionally, the government has vowed to continue its support for law enforcement agencies, ensuring that they are well-equipped and well-trained to handle the complex nature of these crimes.

Advertisement

In conclusion, the sealing of Pastor Onyebuchi Okocha’s ministry in Nkpor serves as a clear message that the Anambra State government is committed to rooting out fraudulent practices that exploit vulnerable individuals under the guise of religion.

The closure of the church marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to promote transparency, accountability, and security in religious institutions throughout the state.

Moving forward, the government will continue to monitor and investigate any further allegations of ritualistic crime to protect the people of Anambra and ensure that they are not deceived or harmed by those who seek to exploit their faith. (Geencee Blog)

Advertisements
Continue Reading

News

NAFDAC seizes 140 tonnes of expired drugs, uncovers warehouses in Aba

Published

on

Spread the love

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has uncovered two warehouses stocked with expired drugs at No. 269, Sam Mbakwe Road (formerly Faulk’s Road), Aba.

This was made known in a statement shared by the agency on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday.

According to reports, some suspects managed to remove several cartons of expired but relabeled drugs before security reinforcements arrived.

The statement said, “#AbaUpdates Two warehouses at No. 269, Sam Mbakwe Road (formerly Faulk’s Road), Aba, stocked with expired drugs, have been uncovered.

“During the raid, it was discovered that suspects had removed some cartons of expired but relabelled drugs before security reinforcements arrived.”

In a related operation at Umumeje, Umuocheala, Osisioma LGA, NAFDAC seized 140 tonnes of expired drugs. This figure does not include additional products confiscated from drug shops at the Ariaria International Market.

During the crackdown, NAFDAC officials collected 178 drug samples, which will undergo laboratory analysis to determine their composition and potential health risks.

The statement added, ‘From the warehouse at Umumeje, Umuocheala, Osisioma LGA, 140 tonnes of expired drugs were evacuated—excluding products seized from drug shops at Ariaria International Market.

Advertisement

“A total of 178 drug samples collected during the operation will undergo laboratory analysis.”

Advertisements
Continue Reading

Trending