The NCDC, agency with the mandate to control diseases nationwide, alongwith state governments rolled guides and measures to reduce casualty rate of the scourge of Cholera, as the spread of the disease reaches public crisis level. In Lagos state in particular, the government announced measures following the resumption of school in the state. But two weeks after, our correspondent, Korede Abdullah takes a look at the compliance level, amidst the increasing casualty figures.
40 Fatalities, 2,102 Cases
The sudden and devastating outbreak of cholera in Nigeria has left a trail of death and sorrow, highlighting the vulnerability of different states of the federation to this ancient yet still deadly disease.
With more than 1,141 reported cases and 40 fatalities, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, the outbreak has sparked widespread panic and raised urgent questions about the state of public health infrastructure, sanitation, and hygiene in the country.
In its situation report in June, the NCDC listed the 10 states that contributed 90 per cent to the burden of cholera as Bayelsa, Zamfara, Abia, Cross River, Bauchi, Delta, Katsina, Imo, Nasarawa, and Lagos.
In the same period, the Lagos State Ministry of Health also reported that it had recorded 350 suspected cases of the disease in 29 wards across multiple LGAs with 17 confirmed cases and 15 fatalities attributed to severe dehydration caused by delayed presentation. This grim situation makes Lagos to be the worst hit in the country.
NCDC Lamenting Shortage of Vaccine
The situation became more compounded on June 22 as the NCDC lamented that the country had run out of vaccine to battle the dreaded virus. According to the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr Jide Idris, the global shortage of vaccine had caused some setback.’
“The shortage of vaccines has hampered mass immunisation campaigns crucial for preventing the spread of cholera,” Dr Idris said regretfully.
As the effect of the vaccine shortage is bitting harder, the federal government initiated discussions with the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (Gavi) to secure additional supplies of cholera vaccines.
The NCDC boss later announced that Nigeria had placed an order for more cholera vaccines from donor agencies. However, as of the time of filing this report, the date of delivery is still unknown.
In response to the escalating cholera outbreak in 31 states, the NCDC activated its Emergency Operations Centre (EOC). According to the DG of the agency, the aim of the EOC is to “to coordinate national efforts to combat the disease.”
Lagos Educates Residents
The Lagos State government (LASG) is also not relenting. The state has continued to educate the residents on measures to reduce further spread of the bacterium. The State Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, traced the source of the outbreak of cholera, which has plagued the state since June, to unregulated street beverages and contaminated water supply.
Also buttressing this was the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi who said it was discovered after the Environmental Health Services officials from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Environment had gone to the affected areas to conduct investigations.
“We carried out a survey and found that the common denominator, which was one of the deadly factors, was a tiger nut drink. People who came to the hospitals all identified that they had drunk tiger-nut drinks.” Dr Ogunyemi disclosed.
Visits to Schools In Lagos
African Health Report, (AHR), visited some schools in the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos to assess the level of awareness and enlightenment being given to the students and members of staff on how to avoid the cholera bacterium.
At the King’s Gift Nursery, Primary and College, Igando, our correspondent met and interviewed the proprietor of the school, Mr Akinyemi Matthew. He said his pupils are given enlightenment and education on the cholera outbreak on a daily basis.
“We have not resting on our oars in giving enlightenment and sensitisation to our pupils and our members of staff on the cholera outbreak since it has become a topical issue in Lagos.
“We have washing basins where everyone watches hands at intervals. We tell them what not to eat and drink. And we keep our toilet and environment clean all the time.” Matthew revealed.
Other schools visited by our correspondent included Venal Ideal College, Ikotun; Bi-idhinillah Children School and Igando Community High School, where the head teachers and principal echoed the same sentiment that necessary awareness is being given to their students, as well as members of staff.
The awareness campaign and enlightenment by the Lagos State governments appears to be yielding some dividends. The State announced on Sunday, June 30, that there had been a significant improvement in daily cholera cases from the surge reported two weeks earlier.
However, it acknowledged evidence of ongoing low-grade community transmission as a result of few cases still being reported in various hospitals in the state.
The Lagos Commissioner for Health revealed that although no new cholera-related deaths have been reported in the last 72 hours, the government was intensifying countermeasures to completely eliminate transmission.
What is Cholera And How Does It Spread?
A medical practitioner, Dr Ademola Ajibade spoke with the newspaper and said, “Cholera is a disease caused by eating food and drinking water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
“Its symptoms are severe diarrhoea (“rice water stool”), dehydration, weakness, muscle cramps, fever, vomiting, low blood pressure and thirst.”
Dr Ajibade said it can be spread when people do not wash their hands with soap and water after defecating and then cook or serve food with unwashed hands.
He added that cholera also spreads when people eat food without washing their hands before and after eating. “If cooked food is not covered, it may get contaminated from flies that carry the bacteria.” he stressed.
Wash Raw Fruits and Vegetables
Dr Ajibade advised that people should thoroughly wash raw fruits and vegetables in clean running water before being eaten. He noted that eating raw seafoods contaminated with cholera bacterium is another way people get infected.
