By Lara Adejoro
As of August 30, 2021, there have been about 58,698 suspected
cases of cholera in Nigeria, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. Of this figure, about 2,035 Nigerians are already killed by this
deadly, yet preventable disease.
The
dead now reduced to statistical figures are husbands, wives, brothers, and
sisters. They could have been saved if the Nigerian nation had taken the right
step at the right time to combat the menace of cholera.
However,
more disturbing is the fact that little has been done so far in responding to
this acute diarrhoeal disease that can kill within hours if left untreated.
Since
COVID-19 broke out in the country, huge resources have been invested in
responding to it, but it seems the nation is losing sight of the ongoing raging
cholera outbreaks across the country.
There
are yet to be banners, signboards, awareness campaigns by the government, and
private organization's on the dangers of the infection that has already claimed
many lives across the country.
The
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control said it is supporting states through the
deployment of rapid response teams, development and dissemination of National
Acute Watery Diarrhoea Guidelines, deployment of cholera rapid diagnostic kits.
It
must, however, be emphasized that efforts to contain the outbreak of this
acute, diarrheal illness should go beyond these measures by the government.
Those
interventions will not solve the underlying issues leading to cholera outbreaks
in the country, especially in most of the affected states.
Cholera
is caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio
cholerae and it remains a global threat to public health and an
indicator of inequity and lack of social development, according to the World
Health Organization.
Cholera
is a waterborne disease, and the risk of transmission is higher when there is
poor sanitation and disruption of potable water supply.
The
wrong disposal of refuse and practices such as open defecation can contaminate
water used for drinking and personal use. These lead to the spread of
water-borne diseases such as cholera.
Therefore,
without proper water, sanitation, and hygiene, Nigeria remains at risk of
cholera cases and deaths.
According
to a professor of public health, Tanimola Akande, the bacteria that cause
cholera are expelled through faeces and can be shed into the environment to
infect other people.
Akande said, “Poor hygiene, particularly through open faecal
disposal, poor hand-washing after defecation, and drinking water from sources
that are contaminated are common modes of transmission and if left untreated,
the disease could lead to death.”
Also,
a public health physician and Senior Lecturer, Department of Community Health
and Primary Care, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Dr. Doyin Ogunyemi
said a small gram of faeces contains hundreds of dangerous viruses.
She
said people defecate in the open mostly because they do not have access to the
toilet or it’s not clean enough to use.
According
to her, open defecation can lead to water-borne and food-borne diseases like
cholera.
Akande,
who is also a former National Chairman of the Association of Public Health
Physicians of Nigeria, said adequate surveillance is very important to detect
the places and people affected early and provide proper treatment for
identified cases in health facilities.
“It
is important to educate people and raise awareness on measures they can take to
prevent cholera.
“These
measures include the provision of potable water and regular hand-washing with
soap and water, particularly after defecation. Toilet facilities should be
readily accessible in homes and public places,” he said.
Cholera
outbreaks in Nigeria must therefore be seen and treated as a multidimensional
problem and tackling it will require concerted efforts from stakeholders in
health, water supply, environmental protection among others.
These
stakeholders can only work together and efficiently when there is a strong
political commitment, leadership and proper funding.
The time to demonstrate that political commitment and leadership to curb cholera is now.
Posts
0 Comments