Cholera: Medical expert warns against open defecation

Dr Yarima Yusuf, a Consultant in the Department of Internal Medicine, Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yola, has urged traditional rulers to advise their subjects to guard against cholera outbreak.

The consultant made the call in an interview with Newsmen.

Yusuf said traditional rulers should educate their subjects on the dangers of cholera because it would be better to prevent the disease than to cure.

He said traditional rulers had many roles to play in promoting good health in their communities.

” I want to urge them to double their efforts in ensuring prevention instead of cure,” he said.

Yusuf enjoined them to educate their people to complement government's efforts in addressing such a health issue.

He listed some of the preventive measures as personal hygiene, drinking clean water, washing vegetables and fruits with salt and avoid having contact with someone who has it.

“Because of open defecation, if you drink water from the stream or river, you are likely to have cholera, and children that swim in water during rainy season are likely to have cholera.

'”'Whatever vegetables or fruits you buy, ensure you wash them properly before cooking,'”