Plateau records zero case of cholera outbreak

.1m households to gain access to potable drinking water

From Daniel Dauda, Jos

Plateau State sustainable urban and rural water supply, sanitation and hygiene (SURWASH) has declared the state recorded zero case in ongoing cholera outbreak ravaging the country.

Programme coordinator, SURWASH Engr. Jonathan Malann made this known to newsmen Wednesday at the NUJ Secretariat, Jos.

He revealed the cholera outbreak has been recorded in 33 States of the country with no official case recorded in Plateau State as reported by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).

“We have recorded 1,548 suspected cases, 65 confirmed cases, and 52 deaths nationwide.”

Malann streamline some mechanisms the agency put in place in efforts to control the spread of cholera outbreak in Plateau state.

According to him, “multisectoral Coordination the Government of Plateau State continues to work with multiple local and international stakeholders to ensure targeted and timely response activities.

“Another multisectoral approach among others that is worth noting is the Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Hygiene (SURWASH) Program supported by the World Bank to the Government of Nigeria (GoN) through a facility of USD 700 million using bank financing instruments namely a Program for Results (PforR) component, and an Investment Project Financing (IPF) technical assistance component.

“The Program is for a six-year period in seven states starting from May 2021 to June 2027.  The states include: Ekiti, Delta, Gombe, Imo, Kaduna, Katsina and Plateau”, he mentioned.

The programme coordinator further stated that the agency has put in modalities to ensure over one million Plateau households have access to potable drinking water.

“Rehabilitation of Yelwa Water Treatment Plant, Extension of Water Pipeline Distribution Network to about 11,000 beneficiaries in Gyel community of Jos South LGA.Rehabilitation of Water Treatment Plants in Bokkos, Langtang North, and upgrading of Wase Ground Water Works, to provide 30,000 beneficiaries in the above mentioned LGAs.

“Construction of 13 Isolated Water Schemes in Mangu, Bokkos, Langtang North, Wase and Jos South LGAs of the State towards increasing access to about 130,000 beneficiaries in the Local Government Areas.”

“Construction of 50 Hand Pump Boreholes in 50 Communities in Bokkos, Langtang North, Wase and Jos South LGAs of the State towards increasing access to about 12,500 beneficiaries in the Local Government Areas. Construction of 90 Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Facilities in Primary Schools and Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in Mangu, Bokkos, Langtang North, Wase and Jos South LGAs of the Areas towards increasing access to WASH services in schools and PHCs towards increasing school enrolment and improving maternal and child care in the Local Government Areas.”