By Asma’u Ahmad
The Sokoto State Government has restated its commitment toward preventing the outbreak of endemic diseases across the state.
The state Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Balarabe Kakale, said this on Monday during an interactive meeting with members of Sarkin Adar Gandu Community, Sokoto North Local Government Area of the state.
“The area has been the most challenging during any out-break of diseases in the state and needed to be given more priority to avoid such. Sarkin Adar area is one of the areas where a lot of revenue is being generated in Sokoto, but it has so many challenges such as the spread of diseases.
Governor Aminu Tambuwal
“We have invited health personnel to conduct research across the area in order to identify the causative agents of the over spread in the community. The government is committed to ensuring good health of its citizens and protecting them from diseases by ensuring it invests more in the sector,” Kakale said.
The commissioner also called on the community to support the government in ensuring proper environmental and personal hygiene.
He urged the residents of the community to always “be the first to attend immunization programmes to avoid the outbreak of diseases in the area.’’
Speaking earlier, the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Sokoto chapter, Isa Shuni who also attended the meeting, said it was aimed at preventing recurrence of the outbreak of endemic diseases across the state.
According to Shuni, journalists being the bridge between the government and the society are also responsible to always ensure the people are well protected, most especially in health related issues.
“As such, we organised the meeting to hear from the community and the government, in order to suggest the necessary solutions to avoid future occurrence of endemic diseases in the state.’’
Newsmen report that the meeting was organised by the state chapter of NUJ in collaboration with the state Ministry of Health.
The meeting was attended by community leaders, representatives of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s), Ministries of Animal Health, Environment, Water Resources, Land and Housing Development, among others.
