An unprecedented fear of possible cholera outbreak has rippled across Nigeria, with no fewer than 15 mortality in Lagos State alone. Several tests and investigations carried out in the State have associated the current outbreak of the disease with the Cholera subtype known as Serovars O1. The Lagos State Health Commissioner Akin Abayomi had stated on Tuesday 18 June that the Cholera is “highly aggressive and contagious, with the potential for widespread.”
Giving the breakdown of the outbreak across local governments via his verified X account, the Health Commissioner said Lagos Island has the highest number of suspected cases with 106, followed by Kosofe 49, Eti-Osa 38, and Lagos mainland 30 out of the 350 suspected cases in the state. Mr Abayomi added that the affected persons are currently receiving free treatment at the State’s public health facilities.
This year alone, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reported that cholera had claimed 30 lives across 30 states in the country. The agency also revealed that between January and June, Nigeria had recorded 1,141 suspected cases of cholera, adding that states like Bayelsa, Lagos, Abia, Cross River, Delta, Imo, Katsina, Nasarawa and Zamfara have recorded 90 per cent of the disease, which experts say have taken thousands of lives since it was detected in the country some decades ago.
Contracted through the consumption of contaminated food or water, poor sanitation, and lack of handwashing, experts claim that the various efforts of the federal government to curb the life-threatening disease over the years have not yielded because there have not been corresponding efforts from state governments. Meanwhile, to prevent the recurrence of cholera in Nigeria, experts posited that the three tiers of government must collectively and collaboratively work together.
‘An emergency meeting’
On Tuesday, 18th of June, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund, and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) quickly held an emergency meeting in Lagos over the current outbreak of cholera which reports said had claimed at least 15 lives with no fewer than 100 persons receiving treatment in some of the public health facilities in the State.
Announcing the meeting via his X account formerly (Twitter), Walter Mulombo, the WHO country representative, wrote, “Happening Now: @WHONigeria @UNICEF_Nigeria @IOM_Nigeria hold an emergency meeting on the emerging cholera outbreak in Lagos state.” He added, “The three agencies are discussing joint @UN_Nigeria support @NCDCgov @ProfAkinAbayomi.”
‘Defeating the disease’
Experts say to prevent the recurrence of the contagious disease, there must be access to clean, safe, and potable drinking water. They also say there must be proper sanitation and waste disposal and appropriate hygiene as well as hand-washing. They urge Nigerians, mostly especially those in the rural areas where the disease is said to be prevalent, to avoid consuming raw fruits and vegetables, food from street vendors, as well as raw or undercooked seafood. They add that the governments can equally contain the disease through the sponsoring of Cholera awareness jingles in both English and local languages.”
Similarly, the NCDC has equally urged the public to “ensure that water is boiled and stored in a clean and covered container before drinking, practice good personal hand hygiene by washing your hands frequently with soap under clean running water. Use alcohol-based hand sanitiser if soap and clean water are not available. Ensure that food is well cooked before consumption. Only consume raw food such as fruits and vegetables, after washing thoroughly with safe water.”
