Ruby Rabiu and Ruqayyah Yusuf Aliyu
30 April 2008
Abuja — The Nigeria Red Cross Society (NRCS) said it has spent about N20m in nine northern states to help stop the fatal spread of measles, cholera and cerebrospinal meningitis. At a press conference to reveal new advocacy and sensitization plans, the
chairperson of the NRCS measles sensitisation campaign and wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Helen Mark, said about five million persons were likely to be infected by the diseases. Mrs Helen Mark said 500 Nigerians have lost their lives to the epidemics in the last two months. Mrs. Mark added that the rate of the epidemics will soon reach an alarming state, adding that the outbreak of measles and meningitis in Katsina and Kebbi states and cholera in Benue State have resulted in avoided death toll. She attributed the outbreaks to lack of basic amenities like water and poor sanitary conditions of the people, most especially in the rural areas, adding that Sokoto, Bauchi, Kano, Jigawa, Kebbi, Yobe, Borno, Katsina and Kaduna states were the worst hit because of the absence of potable water. "A lot of Nigerians have lost their lives within the shortest time since the outbreak of the epidemics of cholera, meningitis and measles across the country. These deaths are avoidable if the people had access to good drinking water, good medical facilities and lots more," she added.
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