Cholera outbreak hits Sokoto

Story by Susan Mbamah 

The Sokoto State Government has activated a rapid response following a cholera outbreak reported across 12 local government areas.

The outbreak, first detected earlier in the week, triggered an immediate emergency deployment of health personnel and medical supplies to affected communities.

A senior official of the Ministry of Health, Biliyaminu Sifawa speaking on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the State Primary Health Development Centre confirmed on Thursday that health workers were dispatched to Primary Health Centres within 24 hours of receiving the alert.

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“Our health workers moved immediately to stabilise patients and ensure that essential drugs and consumables were available in all affected facilities,” the official said.

Sifawa added that the state has intensified community sensitisation campaigns on hygiene practices, safe water handling, and the dangers of open defecation measures he described as crucial to containing the spread.

The Head of the UNICEF Sokoto Field Office, Michael Juma, said the agency supported the state’s intervention effort across all 12 affected LGAs: Binji, Dange-Shuni, Gada, Goronyo, Gwadabawa, Kebbe, Kware, Silame, Sokoto North, Sokoto South, Tureta, and Wamakko.

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He noted that UNICEF supplied 20 cartons of Aqua Tabs, 577 cholera kits, 289 WASH dignity kits, six drums of chlorine, and other essential materials needed for the emergency response.

“The support was made possible through funding from SIDA and the United States Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance,” Juma said.

Sokoto and other states in the Northwest continue to experience repeated cholera outbreaks, often driven by unsafe water sources and poor sanitation, particularly during the rainy season.

State authorities say surveillance and case management efforts are ongoing as health workers intensify monitoring across communities.

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