The Federal Government has advised Nigerians to steer clear of locally made drinks like kunu, zobo, and fura to prevent cholera. Additionally, it emphasized the importance of practicing good sanitation and hygiene at home and work.
Iziaq Salako, the Minister of State for Environment, issued this directive in a statement on Monday in Abuja. Salako also urged everyone to adopt preventive measures, including maintaining a clean environment and properly disposing of waste at designated sites.
He said, “Ensure the use of clean and safe water. Water from suspicious sources should be well boiled or treated by adding one pack of chlorine solution to 100 parts.
“Avoid locally prepared drinks like kunu, zobo, fura da nono, koko, fruit juice among others except it is certain that the preparation was done in a hygienic and safe manner.
“Wash hands regularly with soap under running water, especially after using the toilet, cleaning a child who has gone to the toilet, before preparing food, before and after eating, and after playing with animals, ” he said.
He also urged States and Local Governments to enhance environmental health surveillance in places where food and drinks are sold nationwide, including markets, garages, schools, restaurants, stadiums, and venues for religious and sporting events.
Salako emphasized that these measures would help prevent the spread and transmission of cholera, aiding in the disease’s control. He called on Commissioners for Environment and Local Government Chairpersons to support environmental health officers in intensifying sanitation and hygiene efforts through community-led total sanitation initiatives.
Salako also stressed the importance of strengthening collaboration with health authorities and other stakeholders, following the federal government’s one health approach. He added that arrangements had been made to provide the most affected states with chlorine solutions or tablets and resources for water and food testing to prevent further transmission.
He noted that a recent report from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) indicated a total of 1,159 suspected cases, 65 confirmed cases, and 30 deaths across 30 states. The most affected states, contributing 90 percent of the total cases, include Bayelsa, Lagos, Zamfara, Abia, Bauchi, Cross River, Ebonyi, Delta, and Katsina.
He explained that cholera is driven by poor sanitation and hygiene, resulting from ingesting contaminated food or water with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
Salako stated that cholera remains a global public health threat, affecting both children and adults and can be fatal if not treated promptly.
He also described it as a highly virulent disease, with symptoms manifesting within 12 hours to five days after exposure.
“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.
“Extreme climate events like flooding are also contributing in multiple ways to drive the outbreak of the disease. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed the global resurgence of cases of cholera classifying the current outbreak as a “grade three public health emergency”, requiring maximal WHO system-wide response.
“Nigeria is one of the 14 countries in Africa where the resurgence is being experienced,” he said.
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