The recent cholera outbreak reported by the Lagos State government on 09 June 2024, has been reported to have led to 60 hospitalisation and 15 fatalities within the last few days.
A statement signed on Saturday by Tunbosun Ogunbanwo the Director of Public Affairs at the state Ministry of Health, disclosed that the state government has activated its Public Health Emergency Operations Centre at Mainland Hospital, Yaba, to address the increasing number of severe gastroenteritis cases across multiple Local Government Areas in the state. Meanwhile, Professor Akin Abayomi, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health has disclosed in a separate statement on Saturday while speaking on steps taken to control the outbreak in Lagos State that 350 suspected cases of cholera were reported in 29 wards across multiple LGAs in Lagos State with 17 confirmed cases and 15 fatalities so far. The Lagos state commissioner for Health further added that “inspections of facilities are ongoing alongside the prepositioning of cholera kits in health facilities across the State and that in the state’s efforts to control the outbreak the distribution of Oral Rehydration Solutions (ORS), and public health education campaigns would be embarked upon. While disclosing that that the cases of cholera in the state are on a downward move, Abayomi informed that the laboratory investigation and test results have so far confirmed Cholera sub-type O-1 which is associated with more severe disease. In a recent public health advisory, the NCDC warned of the rising trend of cholera cases across the country, exacerbated by the intensifying rainy season. So far this year, 1,141 suspected cases have been noted, with 10 states accounting for 90 percent of these cases. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) further reiterated that the outbreak is part of a larger national issue, with Nigeria recording 65 confirmed cases and 30 deaths from January 1 to June 11, 2024, spanning 96 local governments in 30 states. In a swift reaction through a statement signed and made available on the Nigeria House of Representatives verified “X” handle @HouseNGR the Chairman, of the House Committee on Healthcare Services, Rep. Dennis Idahosa, stressed the need for immediate & coordinated action: saying “We must act quickly & decisively to address this outbreak. Mobilizing resources & implementing preventive measures are crucial to safeguard our citizens.” He continued: “Community engagement and education are essential in fighting the spread of cholera. We urge citizens to follow hygiene practices and report any suspected cases to health authorities.” “…Ensuring access to clean drinking water, proper sanitation and waste disposal, and maintaining good hygiene practices, including regular handwashing, are key to preventing cholera.” The House commends the NCDC for leading a multi-sectoral National Cholera Technical Working Group & providing essential support to the affected states. We also commend the @FollowLASG & other state governments for the proactive disclosure & their efforts to contain the challenge. The Chairman in his statement further disclosed that Healthcare remains a top priority on the legislative agenda of the 10th Assembly House of Representatives as it is committed to enhancing the healthcare system and ensuring access to quality medical services for all Nigerians. Rep. Idahosa in his statement signed by the House Spokesman/Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs @HonAkinRotimiJr the House Committee on Health while extending its heartfelt condolences to the families affected by the outbreak urged all Nigerians to remain vigilant, added that the House of Representative will continue to advocate for strong public health measures and preventive strategies to manage outbreaks like this. Meanwhile Dr. Tuyi Mebawondu a Public Health Practitioner in an interview monitored on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8WR9MJXVeQ said the outbreak has become a yearly event occasioned by bad governance, poverty, illiteracy, and underdevelopment amongst other factors he said.
