Zamfara: Outbreak of strange disease claims 3, over 40 infected

From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

The Zamfara Circle, a NonGovernmental Organization has called on Governor Dauda Lawal to pay urgent attention to the outbreak of yet to be identified disease which allegedly affected over fifty persons and killed 3 children so far.
According to the statement by the Chairman of the Circle, Dr. Aminu M. Lawal,, the group has written a letter to the Governor with a view to draw his attention to the outbreak of unknown disease currently in the state which already affected few LGA’s with Maradun and Shinkafi LGA’s recording the highest number of reported cases.
“Information available to the Circle indicates that so far, about 40+ suspected cases, mostly children, are suffering from the yet to be identified disease suspected to be (metal) poisoning with symptoms such as distended stomach, difficulty in breathing and fever have been evacuated from Shinkafi LGA to Shagari PHC in Gusau, where they are meant to receive better medical care.
“The condition these people are living in is not worth sharing as some patients are left sleeping outside because of lack of enough beds. The patients also defecate openly, largely due to lack of toilet facilities. There is also acute lack of portable drinking water as well as inadequate food supply. This is regarded as dangerous as the patients need to be regularly and adequately fed, given the need for balanced diet as part of symptomatic treatment.
“The Circle noted that Shagari Primary Health Care Center is currently under renovation which made it inadequate to cater for those patients.
“Checks by the Circle revealed that, the Emergency Operation Center (EOC) in collaboration with other partners have mobilized to the Centre to render emergency services but lack of proper coordination and logistical support from the Ministry of Health has hindered any meaningful progress.
“The Circle understands that one of the major challenges facing the EOC is lack of regular operational funding from the State Government to deliver on its major core mandate of responding to diseases of public health concerns.”