The Zamfara State Government has announced that the recent cholera outbreak, which affected numerous communities across the state’s 14 Local Government Areas (LGAs), has been successfully contained, with no active cases currently reported.
The development was disclosed by the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Nafisa Maradun, during an After Action Review Meeting on the cholera response, held at the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre in Gusau. Dr. Maradun was represented at the meeting by the Director of Public Health, Dr. Yusuf Haske.
Characterizing the achievement as evidence of the administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and people-centered governance, Dr. Maradun provided a comprehensive overview of the outbreak. She stated that 15,464 cholera cases were recorded, with 15,265 patients successfully treated and discharged. Tragically, 192 deaths were documented across the state.
Dr. Maradun added that the state government had developed a robust Pandemic Preparedness Plan to address future public health threats, including cholera, diarrhoea, cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM), heavy metal contamination, and other diseases of public health importance. Appreciation letters were issued to all supporting partners in recognition of their contributions.
The State Coordinator of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Raji Mukhtar, highlighted the importance of timely planning, proper coordination according to the Incident Management System (IMS), and accurate data reporting. He noted that initial challenges in Zurmi and Anka created vulnerabilities to misinformation, particularly following media reports from Gummi, which raised public anxiety.
Dr. Mukhtar praised the harmonization of partner support and the activation of IMS, which established a unified command and ensured an effective response. He commended the Zamfara Government for demonstrating exemplary political will by dedicating necessary resources at every stage. He also stressed the need for improved, coordinated data reporting at the Local Government level through Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNOs) to enhance surveillance and early detection.
The review meeting was attended by major health partners, including WHO, UNICEF, AFENET, Solidarity Support, IRC, Red Cross, and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). Key government agencies, including Ruwatsan, PHCB, Humanitarian, ZESA, and the Ministries of Information and Environment, also participated.
The session reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to strengthening public health systems and improving the quality of life for Zamfara residents.
