TODAY’S VIEWPOINT IS ON THE NEED TO CURTAIL THE SPREAD OF CHOLERA OUTBREAK IN NIGERIA. IT IS WRITTEN BY HEAD OF EDITORAIL UNIT, YETUNDE OKE
The history of cholera can be traced to the 19th century, when cholera spread across the world from its original reservoir in the Ganges delta in India.
Six subsequent pandemics killed millions of people across all continents of the world.
According to World Health Organisation, cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingesting food or water contaminated with the bacterium vibrio.
It is also estimated that there are 1.3 to 4 million cases of cholera and 21,000 to 143,000 people die every year.
The health organisation said cholera remains a global threat to public health, especially to people living in places with unsafe drinking water, poor sanitation, and inadequate hygiene.
W.H.O. added that cholera manifests with several range of symptoms, from mild to severe levels, including watery diarrhoea which is often described as “rice-water stools”.
Also, vomiting and severe dehydration which if left untreated can lead to shock and eventual death.
Other symptoms include irritability, fatigue, sunken eyes, dry mouths, extreme thirst, little or no urinating, low blood pressure, and irregular heartbeat.
In Nigeria, according to a data derived from the analysis of the weekly cholera situation reports released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, between 2021 and 2024, about 4,364 people have died out of the 139,730 suspected cases of cholera across the country in the last four years.
In the current cholera outbreak, NCDC reported over 1,528 suspected cases in 31 states of the federation.
Some of the states are Lagos, Bayelsa, Zamfara, Abia, Cross River, Bauchi, Delta, Katsina, Imo, and Nasarawa.
In Lagos state alone, with the resurgence of cholera, the state has recorded over 500 recorded cases.
The Lagos state ministry of health reported 29 deaths and 579 cases since the outbreak of cholera some weeks ago.
While in Ogun state, the state government has confirmed 25 cases of cholera in seven local government areas, with one casualty from Ijebu North local government.
In a bid to mitigate the spread of cholera, NCDC has rolled out certain guidelines to the public.
Some of the guidelines are ensuring that water is boiled and stored in a clean and covered container before drinking, practicing good personal hand hygiene by washing hands frequently with soap under clean running water and ensuring that food is well cooked before consumption.
Furthermore, NCDC warned against open defecation and indiscriminate refuse dumping.
The federal government, also urged state and local governments to scale up environmental health surveillance in places where food and drinks are sold nationwide.
Addressing cholera outbreak in Nigeria requires coordinated efforts to improve water and sanitation infrastructure, promote hygiene practices, and ensure timely medical interventions.
Cholera is an easily treatable disease and majority of patients can be treated successfully through prompt administration of oral rehydration solution (ORS).
People should seek medical advice and views immediately when they feel signs and symptoms of cholera to get a proper diagnosis and treatment.
Cholera outbreaks happen majorly in unhygienic places, overcrowded areas and slums. Thus, for individuals, there is the need for good hygiene and sanitation and to practice hygienic toilet standards.
Communities that are overcrowded should ensure they have committees that would set standards on cleaning to ensure a clean and tidy environment and abolish open defecation.
By focusing on both immediate and long-term solutions, Nigeria can work towards a future where cholera outbreaks become a history.
Thus, this is a call to all Nigerians to see cholera as a challenge and collectively work to see an end to it by taking personal hygiene seriously.
