Nigeria: Government Battles Outbreak of Water-Borne Disease in Abuja

Abuja — There are fears about an outbreak of a water borne disease in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Preliminary investigations point to gastroenteritis, a common illness among infants and children.

Experts say gastroenteritis is a condition that causes diarrhoea and vomiting and is usually caused by a bacterial or viral tummy bug. Cases in adults are usually caused by norovirus or bacterial food poisoning.

There are public health concerns as about nine children died of a related ailment at a ghetto called Angwan Hausawa, at the outskirts of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

A total of 30 children are reported hospitalized at a nearby Damagaza village.

Officials of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Primary Health Care Development Board confirmed the development to The Guardian.

Executive Secretary of FCT Primary Health Development Board, Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, said investigations were still on, but pointed to a water borne ailment. The World Health OrganiSation (WHO) officials are said to have been mobilized.

But it was confirmed that the affected community is a slum and the children affected have been drinking from and playing at a nearby stream.

He said the ailment may have been on for months, but got to attention of authorities recently.

Information available to The Guardian indicate that the community has two borehole water facilities provided by government, but the agreement with the authorities was that villagers would pay N20 for each fetching as support towards providing diesel and other maintenance requirements.

Villagers said many of the poor inhabitants who are unable to pay prefer to get water from a nearby stream, a water source considered dirty.

Mohammed said: "We are still investigation. Date of notification of Public Health was 4th August. Line list was also done same day. The first case was on June 15, 2016. The first victim is a seven year old who died. All the cases with code one died, and code two are alive.

"Till date 41 cases all together out of which 9 died. Health educators have gone for community sensitiSation, health talk and plan for community entry tomorrow."

He said there were plans for health camps with treatment of illnesses, immuniSation, water and sanitation (WASH), nutrition, health education, among others.

He listed symptoms as fever, abdominal distension and greenish, mucoid stools.

"Provisional diagnosis is gastroenteritis. Stool samples have been taken for investigation so that a definitive diagnosis can be made," he added.

Among the victims are two of the 30 children of the community chief. One is dead and the other undergoing surgical interventions at Asokoro District Hospital.

Mohammed confirmed said the state of the community's hygiene was largely responsible for the outbreak.