Cholera: Kano warns residents against drinking rainwater
The Kano State Government has advised residents against drinking rainwater to prevent the spread of cholera.
The warning is against the backdrop of the rainy season that has set in which water may aggravate spread of the pandemic because rains come with cholera complications.
The Head of Public Relations Unit, Ministry of Health, Ibrahim Abdullahi, said this in a statement made available to newsmen on Saturday.
“Hence, it is necessary to warn and remind the people that prevention is better than cure. People should always examine what they take, most importantly vegetables, fruits and drinking water. People need to be wary in this regard to protect themselves from contaminated food or water,” the statement said.
“It is important for people to understand that the rainwater at the beginning of the rainy season is unclean. If one must use it, it must then be purified using water treatment substances, including boiling and filtering before use.
“This will help greatly to safeguard people against the bondage of cholera.”
The Commissioner of Health, Dr. Abubakar Yusuf enjoined people to always wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly with clean water before eating them because they are not clean when they are bought from the markets.
Yusuf also assured of the readiness of the administration of the state governor, Abba Yusuff, to give all the needed attention to people’s healthcare needs.
He urged people to urgently report to the nearest health facility whenever they fall ill.
Cholera is an endemic and seasonal disease, occurring annually mostly during the rainy season and more frequently in areas with poor sanitation.
On Thursday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced an increase in cholera in several regions of the world with almost 195,000 cases and over 1,900 deaths reported in 24 countries since 2024.
