The Oyo State Government, on Tuesday, confirmed that a total number of 245 suspected cases of the dreaded cholera disease was reported between January 1 and October 7 with 23 cases confirmed while only one death was recorded during the period.
The state Commissioner for Health, Oluwasherimi Ajetumobi, made this known while briefing newsmen at the Governor’s Office in Ibadan, the state capital, at the end of the weekly Executive Council Meeting.
Ajetumobi explained that the only death recorded was a patient brought from Lagos while nine other patients currently on admission at the infectious centre in Ibadan were responding to treatment and would soon be discharged.
“A total number of 245 suspected cases of the dreaded cholera disease was reported between January 1 and October 7, 2024, with 23 cases confirmed while only one death was recorded during the period.
“The only death recorded was a patient brought from Lagos. Nine patients, currently on admission at the Infectious Disease Center, Olodo, Ibadan are responding to treatment and will soon be discharged,” she said.
Ajetumobi said a request for approval of the sum of N 210, 243 million state counterpart fund for the support of the net campaign coming up in May 2025 was also looked into at the EXCO meeting
”As part of the activities towards the net campaign, there are some things that we need to do and that is the reason for the request. The United States Agency for International Development initiative has procured a total of 5,670, 644 nets for the state and the state is expected to pay a counterpart fund of N 210, 243.
“The counterpart fund is to cater for the micro-planning which includes logistics, flag off, net campaign, storage and distribution across the 33 Local Government Areas of the state.
”Just as we know the burden of severe malaria in the state disproportionately affects the vulnerable population, particularly children under five, pregnant women and the elderly. Malaria, if happened during pregnancy, can lead to severe outcomes ranging from severe anaemia, miscarriage, and low birth weight which adversely affect maternal and foetal health,” she explained.
She stated that the procurement of the nets cost the USAID the sum of N1,726,214,195.
The commissioner further assured that every household would benefit from the net distribution exercise with consideration for vulnerable persons, particularly children under five years, pregnant women and the elderly.
In his contribution, the state Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Wasiu Olatunbosun, gave highlights of activities slated for the rest of the year approved by the Executive Council as regards culture and tourism.
These include the World Twin Festival coming up on October 12, 2024, at Igbooora, the Yemoja festival coming up between October 10 and 27, 2024 at Ile Aperin, Popo Yemoja in Ibadan, Omilere Alaragbo festival at Ayegun Oleyo, Odo-Ona Elewe in Oluyole Local Government which grand finale will take place on November 17, 2024, Oluyole festival at Mapo, December 10, 2024, and the Omituntun Cultural Carnival at either Obafemi Awolowo Stadium or the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan on December 10–12, 2024
Others are the Iyake International Festival, Ado- Awaye (November 13-16 2024), Aso-Ofi Festival, Iseyin, ( December 4-5, 2024), and the maiden edition of the Ogbomoso Global cultural carnival on December 14-24, 2024 which he described as first of its kind that will bring the sons and daughters of Ogbomoso land from across the globe together.