*Iziaq Salako, Minister of State for Environment, says the Federal Government urges the scale-up of awareness campaigns, focusing especially on places where prepared food and drinks are sold, including markets, garages, schools, restaurants, stadia, religious, and sporting events to avoid contracting the ‘deadly infection’

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

Sequel to the recent outbreak of cholera in some parts of Nigeria, the Federal Government has urged consumers to avoid locally produced traditional beverages, such as Kunu, Zobo, Fura da nono, Koko, and fruit juice, describing them as “potential sources of the deadly infection.”

Iziaq Adekunle Salako, Honourable Minister of State for Environment, who issued the warning in a statement, in Abuja, FCT, urged Nigerians to wash their hands regularly with soap under running water.

Iziaq Adekunle Salako, Honourable Minister of State for Environment

It is recalled that the cholera outbreak in some states of the Federation has tragically claimed lives, and affected several communities in the country recently.

The Minister emphasised the significance of this measure, especially at moments, such as after using the toilet, after cleaning a child who has gone to the toilet, before preparing food, before and after eating, and after playing with animals.

The government also said other precautionary measures include avoiding open defecation and instead using clean and safe toilets.

Salako also explained: “Cook foodstuff well, keeping food covered and eating it hot. Eating in public places including at parties should be done with utmost care.

鈥淲ash fruits and vegetables with clean and safe water before eating. Anybody experiencing any of the symptoms of cholera is advised to seek medical attention immediately.”

He further noted: “We urge all Commissioners of Environment and Local Government Chairmen to support Environmental Health Officers across the country to step up their sanitation and hygiene activities through enhanced community-led total sanitation to break further transmission and spread of the disease.

“We also urge the scale-up of awareness campaigns focusing especially on places where prepared food and drinks are sold like markets, garages, schools, restaurants, stadia, religious, and sporting events.”

The statement noted: “In addition, sub-national governments are urged to strengthen environmental health surveillance in eating premises like ‘mama put’, cafeterias, restaurants and mobile food vendors.”

Cholera is preventable, and prevention is cheaper than cure, averred Salako.

The Minister said: “We assure the general public that the Federal Ministry of Environment remains committed to ensuring a clean and healthy environment for all Nigerians.

鈥淭his is the only way we can prevent and curtail the incidence of cholera outbreaks and other sanitation-related diseases.”

He stated: “Cholera is preventable, and prevention remains better and cheaper than cure. We, therefore, urge all Nigerians to take these preventive measures seriously and more importantly, keep their environment clean.”

Cholera update, by Nigeria Centre for Disease Control

绿帽献妻 reports a situation report on cholera update from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Wednesday, June 26, 2024, indicated a total number of 1,579 suspected cases in 32 states, as well as 54 deaths across the Federation.

Dr. Muntari Hassan, Deputy Director of Surveillance of the NCDC and National Incident Manager for the Centre, saidaffirmed a total 54 deaths and 1,579 suspected cases have been documented since the beginning of the year.

The NCDC also listed the states most affected as contributing 90 percent of the total cases to include Bayelsa, Lagos, Zamfara, Abia, Bauchi, Cross River, Ebonyi, Delta and Katsina.

The health sector regulatory agency also announced an increase in the death toll and spread of cholera across 32 states and 115 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Nigeria.

Lagos, Ogun states reel off measures to protect citizens against cholera disease

The Lagos and Ogun State Governments, in a move to alert their residents to an evolving public health issue along with certain precautionary measures, recently announced the strain of cholera in the state is highly aggressive and contagious.

Prof. Akin Abayomi, Honourable Commissioner for Health in Lagos State, who disclosed the development via his verified X account, said after confirming the outbreak in the cosmopolitan state and economic hub of Nigeria, the identified strain was found to be 鈥渉ighly aggressive and contagious, with potential for widespread dissemination鈥�.

Reports have indicated that Lagos State has recorded 17 confirmed cases of strain of cholera and 15 fatalities since its outbreak in the state.

Prof. Abayomi also disclosed a laboratory investigation has confirmed the strain to be cholera sub-type O-1, explaining that the subtype is associated with more severe diseases.

According to him, through community-based case finding and contact tracing, the government observed that the number of cases 鈥渉as peaked, and is now significantly declining.鈥�

Likewise, in view of the recent cholera outbreak in at least 30 states of the Federation, the Ogun State Government (OGSG) has rolled out precautionary measures.

Kayode Akinmade, Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, stated that the governor was concerned about the development and the need to protect the people, considering the proximity of Ogun State to Lagos, and the degree of interactions between the two states in the South-West region of the country.

The Media and Strategy aide to the governor, in a statement, also noted that precautionary measures, including the following, have been put in place.

He noted these include: 鈥淎ll houses MUST have toilets. Each house without a toilet should identify a room to be converted to a toilet. Residents are given three to six months of grace for compliance.

鈥淎ll petrol stations MUST have functional public toilets with running water as part of their corporate social responsibilities. All garages and parks MUST have functional toilets with running water.鈥�

Akinmade stated: 鈥淎ll markets MUST have functional public toilets with running water. Mechanic villages MUST have functional toilets with running water. All schools (public and private) should have public toilets with running water.鈥�

Besides these measures, the Ogun State Government said the residents of the state were advised to take some measures as a way of protecting themselves against the disease.

He said: 鈥淒rink safe water that is boiled or chlorinated; wash your hands with soap and water after visiting the toilet and before handling food; wash fruits and vegetables properly with safe water before eating and for preparing food; cook food properly.

鈥淏uy and eat only hot food; use water from reliable sources, among other precautions.鈥�

Akinmade added the state鈥檚 Ministry of Environment would ensure strict compliance with all the measures, warning that violators would be sanctioned accordingly.

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