The Kaduna State Government has called on residents to stop open defecation following a diarrhoea outbreak that affected 81 students at Government Girls Secondary School, Kawo.
Open defecation refers to the practice of when human uses their environment as toilet instead of a built toilet.
Health Commissioner, Umma Kaltum-Ahmed, confirmed that 15 students who were hospitalised have fully recovered and resumed classes.
She credited the swift intervention of the State Rapid Response Team, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), for containing the outbreak without any fatalities.
The outbreak, reported on 30 June, affected students aged 16 to 17. Health authorities traced the cause to poor hygiene and unsafe water sources.
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Kaduna commissioner calls for preventive measures
The commissioner urged schools and the public to adopt preventive measures such as regular hand washing, use of alcohol-based sanitisers, safe food preparation, and access to clean water. She also stressed the importance of boiling or treating drinking water, maintaining sanitation facilities, and training food handlers on hygiene.
She warned against food handling while symptomatic and advised that anyone with diarrhoea or vomiting should stay home for at least 48 hours after symptoms subside.
Calling for collaboration among school heads, community leaders, and health workers, Kaltum-Ahmed reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to protecting public health and preventing future outbreaks.
