Plateau State has recorded 953 cases of cholera, and 14 deaths. 910 people have been discharged, while 29 patients are receiving treatment in various health facilities across the state.
This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Nimkong Lar, at a press briefing at the end of the State Executive Council meeting on Wednesday at the Government House, Jos.
Lar said the disease, which was previously recorded in Jos North Local Government, had spread to 13 local government areas, requiring concerted efforts to address.
He said the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) was in the state to support in handling the outbreaks.
“Jos North has the highest number of cholera with 484 cases, while Jos South and Bassa Local Governments follow with 307 and 57 cases respectively,” he said.
He said 100,154 doses of vaccine had been administered in the state out of the 105,600 doses given by the federal government, explaining that 5,000 were returned because of their expiry date of June 28.
The commissioner said the state has no COVID-19 vaccine currently, explaining that a request would have to be made for allocation for those who are yet to receive their second jab.
“As regards COVID-19 cases, the state has so far tested 73,177 people with 9,068 confirmed cases, 9,008 discharged and 57 deaths,” he said.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr Dan Manjang, said the council had approved the procurement of hospital equipment.
They are the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines and 64 slides of Computed Tomography (CT) Scan machines.
Others, according to him, include digital X-ray machines and 4D ultrasound machines, for the use at the Plateau Specialist Hospital at N1.7 billion.
He said the machines would facilitate access to quality and affordable health care service delivery to the residents of the state.
He said that the council also approved the re-award of the construction of the 13-kilometre Mangu Bye pass road at over N2.8 billion.
Manjang said the council also approved the construction of road projects which were mostly revised estimate cost following increase in scope of work and variation of price for materials.
“There was also an approval for the full and final settlement of the buy-out of Jos Inland Dry Port Heipang from Duncan Maritime Ventures Nigeria Limited, by the state government at the cost of N2.2 billion,” he said.
The commissioner said the council also approved the furnishing of the new High Court complex at the cost of N695 million and the Nigerian Union of Journalists Centre at over N34 million including its landscaping.
Other contracts approved include: over N65 million for renovation and remodeling of the state Primary Healthcare Board and provision of office furniture; and the renovation of the governor and deputy governor’s lodges in Kaduna.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Finance, Dr Regina Soemalat, said that the projects would be funded through bank loans, explaining that the state has never defaulted on its loans.