Gusau — The Zamfara State Government says it has successfully contained the recent cholera outbreak that affected communities across all 14 Local Government Areas, with no active cases currently recorded in any part of the state.
A statement by the Information Officer of the Ministry of Health, Suleiman Isah, said the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nafisa Maradun, made the disclosure during an After Action Review Meeting on the cholera response held at the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre in Gusau.
Maradun, represented by the Director of Public Health, Dr. Yusuf Haske, described the achievement as evidence of the administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and people-centered governance.
Giving an overview of the outbreak, the commissioner revealed that Zamfara recorded 15,464 cholera cases, out of which 15,265 patients were treated and discharged, while 192 deaths were documented across the 14 LGAs.
She noted that the state government had developed a robust Pandemic Preparedness Plan to better address future public health threats, including cholera, diarrhea, cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM), heavy metal contamination, and other diseases of concern.
Maradun added that the Ministry of Health had issued letters of appreciation to all supporting partners for their critical contributions to the response effort.
The State Coordinator of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Raji Mukhtar, highlighted the importance of timely planning, proper coordination under the Incident Management System (IMS), and accurate data reporting.
He pointed out that initial challenges in Zurmi and Anka LGAs created vulnerabilities to misinformation, especially following media reports from Gummi that heightened public anxiety. Mukhtar, however, commended the subsequent harmonisation of partner support and the activation of the IMS, which established a unified command structure that improved the effectiveness of the response.
He also praised the Zamfara Government for demonstrating strong political will by providing the necessary resources throughout all stages of the intervention.
Mukhtar emphasised the need for strengthened, well-coordinated data reporting at the local government level, particularly through Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNOs), to improve early detection and surveillance.
The review meeting was attended by major health partners, including WHO, UNICEF, AFENET, Solidarity Support, IRC, Red Cross, and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
Other key government agencies present included Ruwatsan, PHCB, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, ZESA, and the Ministries of Information and Environment.
The session reaffirmed the Zamfara Government’s commitment to strengthening its public health systems and improving the quality of life for citizens.