Nigeria is in a race against time to contain a cholera epidemic. Already, the current outbreak has claimed the lives of over 30 persons
• Medical doctor highlights role of inflation, poverty• WHO: Estimated 4 million cases, 143,000 deaths globally every year
The data was collected between January 1 and June 11, 2024. According to the centre, 10 states: Bayelsa, Zamfara, Abia, Cross River, Bauchi, Delta, Katsina, Imo, Nasarawa and Lagos bore 90 per cent of the burden in the country. The commissioner added: “Later today , we will come out with the position of the government on the issue. If schools everywhere in the state are free to resume, no problem. The state government is not resting on its oars and has been taking steps to curb the outbreak.”
Again, an outbreak was recorded in October 2020, which escalated to several parts of the country for most of 2021. Despite being preventable and easily treatable, children continue to suffer from the potentially fatal disease. He said: “Cholera is on the increase because poverty levels have also increased due to inflation, and people can no longer afford three square meals. As things are getting more expensive, people no longer have access to basic amenities including water. Sachet water used to be sold at N5. It is now N100 for three sachets. Someone who cannot do this would drink water from a river or other unsanitary sources. And we know that people readily defecate in rivers.
“Educational disruption is yet another critical consequence of cholera outbreaks, as illness and the need to care for sick family members lead to school closures and reduced attendance, hindering children’s learning and development. Similarly, post-recovery issues in children can include malnutrition, stunted growth, and weakened immune systems, increasing susceptibility to other diseases.”
She added: “Prevention is more cost-effective than cure; thus, communities should establish systems that promote key hygiene practices, transforming them into a cultural norm. Community-led surveillance can enforce sanitation practices, with empowered local monitors ensuring compliance. Aguwa advised Nigerians to stop eating uncooked foods and vegetables for the period “because you don’t know where they are coming from, and the hygiene practice of those people.”
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