By Mashe Umaru Gwamna
Federal Ministry of Environment has raised concerns over the ongoing cholera outbreak in some states of Nigeria which has tragically claimed many lives and affected many communities.
The Minister of State Environment, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako stated this at the weekend.
He said the recent situation report from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) indicated a total number of 1159 suspected cases, 65 confirmed cases and 30 deaths across 30 States.
“The States most affected, contributing 90% of the total cases includes, Bayelsa, Lagos, Zamfara, Abia, Bauchi, Cross River, Ebonyi, Delta and Katsina”.
He said against this background, the Federal Ministry of Environment has been actively involved through the Department of Pollution Control and Environmental Health and the Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria in activities to break further transmission of the deadly disease .
“ This is through water and food testing to identify sources of infection, environmental sanitation campaigns and household water chlorination”.
He said “Arrangements are also being made to support states that are most affected by the outbreak with chlorine solution/tablets, water and food testing resources, IEC materials and technical advisory”.
He said the ministry is to sensitise the general public on cholera preventive and control measures to avert further spread and strengthen collaboration with the health authorities and other stakeholders .
“In line with the one health approach of the Federal Government of Nigeria”.
He said cholera remains a global threat to public health, affecting both children and adults and can kill if untreated promptly.
“It is an extremely virulent disease that takes between 12 hours and 5 days for symptoms to manifest. The common early symptoms are frequent watery stool that is usually milky white in colour, nausea and vomiting.
“Cholera outbreak is a seasonal public health event in Nigeria, occurring annually mostly during the rainy season and often in areas with poor sanitation and hygiene practices”, he stated.
He noted that sustainable human and environmental interactions is key to prevent and control cholera .
He urged the general public to avoid
open defecation and instead use clean and safe toilets.
“ Cook foodstuff well, keeping food covered and eating it hot, eating in public places including at parties should be done with utmost care among many other preventive measures”.
Meaning, Salako advised that anybody experiencing any of the symptoms of cholera should seek medical attention immediately
“ We urge all Commissioners of Environmentand Local Government Chairmen to support Environmental Health Officers across the country to step up their sanitation and hygiene activitiesthrough enhanced community-led total sanitation in order to break further transmission and spread of the disease”.
