The Rotary Club of Maiduguri has donated medical supplies and essential drugs valued at more than N1 million to the Borno State Ministry of Health to support efforts aimed at curbing the ongoing cholera outbreak.
The donation was presented at the state secretariat in Maiduguri by a delegation led by the club’s president, Abdulkareem Haruna, as part of Rotary’s humanitarian intervention to assist communities affected by public health emergencies.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, the club’s Foundation Chair and Head of Health Committee, Dr. Juliana Bitrus, said the support was designed to complement government measures in managing the outbreak, which has affected thousands of residents and resulted in multiple fatalities across the state.
According to Bitrus, the items donated include 30 cartons of Ringer’s Lactate, Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS), giving sets, cannulas of different sizes, hand sanitizers, surgical spirit, gloves, cotton wool, and a specially designed cholera treatment bed.
Receiving the supplies on behalf of the state government, Borno State Commissioner for Health, Professor Baba Malam Gana, described the intervention as timely and impactful.
He said the donated materials would enhance treatment capacity at cholera treatment centres and improve the state’s emergency response efforts.
“The government and the Ministry of Health appreciate this gesture. These supplies are among the critical materials required to support patient care and save lives during the outbreak,” he said.
The commissioner also called for continued partnership with the Rotary Club, particularly in upcoming cholera vaccination campaigns and public awareness programmes.
Professor Gana disclosed that the state government plans to launch a vaccination exercise in response to the outbreak and urged stakeholders to support sensitisation efforts aimed at encouraging residents to get vaccinated.
He noted that adults between the ages of 21 and 51 have been the most affected by the disease, prompting authorities to intensify public education campaigns and expand treatment services across impacted communities.
According to him, the donated supplies will be distributed immediately to cholera treatment facilities, including centres in Djemtilo and Ngarannam, to strengthen patient care and disease containment efforts.
Earlier, Rotary Club President Abdulkareem Haruna reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting healthcare initiatives and collaborating with government agencies to address public health challenges.
He said the donation aligns with Rotary’s broader mission of promoting healthier communities and supporting interventions that protect lives across Borno State.
