ABIA STATE IS CHOLERA & DIPHTHERIA FREE — INFORMATION COMMISSIONER
REPORTER: PEACE AGBO
Abia State Government says the state is cholera and diphtheria-free after tackling earlier reported cases.
The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu, announced this at the government house while briefing newsmen on the outcome of this week’s state executive council meeting.
Prince Kanu noted that of one hundred and twelve suspected cases of cholera recorded in eight local government areas of the state, whose samples were taken to the national reference laboratory in Lagos, all tested negative and there was no confirm death recorded.
Contributing, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Ngozi Azodo, noted with regret that three deaths were recorded of the twelve suspected reported cases of diphtheria in Osisioma and Umuahia South LGAs.
She, however, said that the recent Rapid Diagnostic Test, conducted on the remaining eight suspected cases came out negative and had proved there was no case of diphtheria in the councils and the entire state.
Dr. Azodo said they were working with relevant agencies to ensure that Abia State maintained cholera-free status, expressing the resolve of the management of the state health sector to maintain high level of surveillance for prompt tackling of any emergency.
The Special Adviser stressed the need for residents of the state to imbibe the attitude of high level of hygiene.
On the lingering wage award approved by the Federal Government to cushion the effects of prevailing economic hardship in the country, the state information Commissioner, again, said the state had agreed on payment of fifteen thousand naira wage award for public servants in the state for a period of three months with effect from July, 2024.
Prince Kanu said that government would soon commence payment of annual leave allowance to civil servants who actually observed their annual leave.
The Commissioner for Information and Culture said construction and rehabilitation works on various roads in the state were in progress despite the rain and noted that the zero-pothole initiative of government had been extended from Tower to Onuimo axis pending the formal ceremony for the expansion of the road by the state government.
Answering questions from Newsmen on the recent reversal of Command Promotion by the state government, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, explained that the reversal became necessary following the abuse of the process and said that further details on the policy would be made public.
EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU
