About 28 people, mostly children have been reportedly dead from lead poisoning in some villages in Rafi L.G.A. of Niger State.
The Minster of State for Health, Fidelis Nwankwo on Wednesday,said the deceased were among the total of 65 cases recorded in the state.
The fresh cases of lead poisoning were recorded in Kawo and Magiro villages of Rafi local government area of the state.
Nwankwo, who spoke to newsmen in Abuja, warned residents of the area to avoid eating from affected cows and goats.
The Minister explained that a breakdown of figure showed that 28 deaths, in addition to cows and goats were affected
He said the Federal Ministry of Health in coordination with the Ministry of mines and Steal Development jointly raised a technical team of eight persons who visited Niger State on a scoping mission, to verify the occurrence of the reported outbreak.
On the findings, he explained that: “Lead Poisoning was confirmed and it is confirmed that most of the people affected are children below the age of five years.
“The affected children were found to have high serum levels of between 171.5 to 224pb/dl (normal is less than 10pb/dl). That means, 17 to 22 times higher than the accepted limits as established by the World Health Organisation.
“The rapid assessment by the NCDC revealed that as at 12th May, 65 cases and 28 deaths had occurred giving case fatality rate of 43 per cent. All the 28 cases were in children below the age of five and female 17 female than male 11.
“Additionally, the finding revealed that a serious impact on our livestock with cows, goats and chickens most affected.
“The devastating impact of this outbreak is associated with new mining sites which were found to contain more leaded ores which are often brought home for crushing and processing.”
Nwankwo said his ministry has since embarked on advocacy meetings with community leaders and youth groups to enlist their understanding.
The health ministry, has also commenced non specific, palliative treatment of the sick children in Kagara Hospital, sharing with communities and miners health and mining safety precautions through health talks and film shows in the local languages.
In Zamfara state, at least 734 children below the age of five, out of 5,395 died from lead poisoning between 2010 and March 2013.
The Minster of State for Health, Fidelis Nwankwo on Wednesday,said the deceased were among the total of 65 cases recorded in the state.
The fresh cases of lead poisoning were recorded in Kawo and Magiro villages of Rafi local government area of the state.
Nwankwo, who spoke to newsmen in Abuja, warned residents of the area to avoid eating from affected cows and goats.
The Minister explained that a breakdown of figure showed that 28 deaths, in addition to cows and goats were affected
He said the Federal Ministry of Health in coordination with the Ministry of mines and Steal Development jointly raised a technical team of eight persons who visited Niger State on a scoping mission, to verify the occurrence of the reported outbreak.
On the findings, he explained that: “Lead Poisoning was confirmed and it is confirmed that most of the people affected are children below the age of five years.
“The affected children were found to have high serum levels of between 171.5 to 224pb/dl (normal is less than 10pb/dl). That means, 17 to 22 times higher than the accepted limits as established by the World Health Organisation.
“The rapid assessment by the NCDC revealed that as at 12th May, 65 cases and 28 deaths had occurred giving case fatality rate of 43 per cent. All the 28 cases were in children below the age of five and female 17 female than male 11.
“Additionally, the finding revealed that a serious impact on our livestock with cows, goats and chickens most affected.
“The devastating impact of this outbreak is associated with new mining sites which were found to contain more leaded ores which are often brought home for crushing and processing.”
Nwankwo said his ministry has since embarked on advocacy meetings with community leaders and youth groups to enlist their understanding.
The health ministry, has also commenced non specific, palliative treatment of the sick children in Kagara Hospital, sharing with communities and miners health and mining safety precautions through health talks and film shows in the local languages.
In Zamfara state, at least 734 children below the age of five, out of 5,395 died from lead poisoning between 2010 and March 2013.
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