Suspected cholera patients in the hospital. Photos; Lara Adejoro
As cholera
runs wild across the north, the infection seems to be spreading fast to other
parts of the country, particularly the South West. LARA ADEJORO writes
on the suspected cholera cases and deaths ravaging Hausa communities in Lagos
and Ogun states
According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease
Control, over 65,145 suspected cholera cases including 2,141 deaths have been
reported from 23 states and FCT in 2021.
The spread of cholera infection across the country
unfortunately is also happening at a time the nation is battling other public
health challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and sporadic outbreaks of Lassa
fever.
While the surge in cholera cases has been predominant in
the northern part of the country, findings revealed
that a traveller from the north might have transmitted the disease to members
of the Hausa community in the Magboro area of Ogun State. Scores of persons in
the Magboro community are reported to have died after presenting with an
ailment whose symptoms include stooling, vomiting and dehydration.
Findings also revealed an outbreak of
gastroenteritis among the Hausa residents of the Mile 12 areas of Lagos.
What
is the diagnosis?
The Ogun state government said on Sunday that it was an
outbreak of gastroenteritis.
Our correspondent, however, confirmed from
the Baale of the community, Modiu Adewole Ademuyiwa, Alalade Magboro of Akeran
land, and residents of the area that it was an outbreak of cholera.
In a statement signed by Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi
Coker, the Ogun State Government said the reported case of the outbreak is
predominant among okada riders and scavengers in the Magboro area.
According to the statement, the index case reported was
of a patient that returned from a trip outside the state.
The statement also noted that the common public toilet
used by people of the community has been linked to the transmission.
However, a professor of public health, Tanimola Akande
said cholera is one of the various types of gastroenteritis.
“It is specifically caused by bacteria called vibrio
cholerae. It presents with more severe vomiting and diarrhea.
“Gastroenteritis presents as diarrhoea, vomiting
abdominal cramps, nausea and sometimes with a fever. It is common in all
seasons but epidemics occur in some seasons particularly in the wet season,” he
added.
However, the outbreak of gastroenteritis is
not limited to only the Magboro area of Ogun state.
Findings revealed that gastroenteritis cases in numbers
are also now being reported at health facilities in the Mile 12 area of Lagos
state.
A visit to the Sawmill area where most of the Hausa
residents stay confirmed this development.
Our correspondent who visited the area also finds that
the residents could be more at risk of the infection because of the unhygienic
environment with many of them living in makeshift zinc and wooden structure
without access to potable water.
The area is also overwhelmed by the waste products of its
ever-growing population.
One of the
suspected gastroenteritis patient receiving treatment at Elim Convalescent
Clinic, Mile 12, Lagos on Thursday
Findings revealed that the fear-stricken
Hausa settlers have been forced to flee the community in large numbers over the
fear of the suspected cholera outbreak ravaging the area.
It was learnt that hundreds of people who are majorly the
Hausa settlers travelled to their states.
Speaking with our correspondent, Chairman of Hausa
Community in the area, Musa Oseni said the state government officials had
visited the area and advised the residents to report to the Magboro Primary
Health Centre if they suspect any case.
“All I know is that the people that died had cholera
because they were stooling, vomiting, and were dehydrated before they
eventually died.
“One of them died last Friday and his family member that
used to stay here has travelled to the village.
“I have heard that six people have died since Friday and
Saturday and since then, no one has died, no one has been stooling,” Oseni said.
Correspondent observed that the public toilet used by the
Hausa community was under lock and key.
“they said the medication is free. But many
people have travelled back to their state. out of fear. More than a hundred
people have travelled,” Oseni added.
Also, another Hausa man at the Cele Bus-stop of the
community, who identified himself as Muhammed said he heard about the outbreak
but he was unbothered.
“Anything that wants to happen will happen, even if you
are anywhere in the world.
“I know people died but I am not going anywhere,” he said.
Mr. Ladepo Duro-Ladipo, who is a resident in the area,
said the sawmill area where the Hausa settlers stay is a spot of several
activities.
“There are lots of activities here but it’s now turning
to a ghost town. Ordinarily, if you come here you will see a huge crowd here
and a lot of activities going on.
“But one thing about this area is the poor hygiene. In fact,
you will see that the gutters and the surrounding are dirty.
“The dirty environment is of great concern
for us as residents but they are not conscious of their health condition.
“Everybody is worried because everybody is vulnerable,” Duro-Ladipo said.
She, however, noted that cholera cases are being
investigated, disclosing that officials from the World Health organisation have
visited.
“All the people that were affected did not come here for
treatment except one Hausa man who came but he had been to another health
facility before coming here.
“When he came, he was only weak and we treated him,” she
said.
Offering
to appease cholera
Meanwhile, the
baale in the community, Ademuyiwa, said it was the first time the community
would record the infection.
He added that sacrifices have been made to
curb the spread of the infection.
“I feel it’s one of them that travelled for the
Eid-el-Kabir that brought the infection here.
“If anything happens to one of them, then it may transmit
to others because they sit together and eat together,” he said.
The bale disclosed that about eight deaths were
“The officials from the Ministry of Health from Owode LGA
and the Health Director from Abeokuta have been here with some medications and
since Sunday, there has been no case of the infection.
“It also killed three Yoruba women because some the abokis live with one of
them.
“Only two of the Hausa people were buried
around Owode but they carried some back to their northern states.
“We have created awareness among the people and urged
them to embrace good hygiene practice. We also told them what to do if they
suspect any case,” he said.
Gastroenteritis
hospitalisation rising in Lagos
Residents at the Mile 12 area of Lagos said most people
suffering from gastroenteritis were being treated at private hospitals and
clinics and their exact number could not be ascertained.
Our correspondent who visited some hospitals and clinics in
the area gathered that no fewer than 22 people from the northern part of the
country have been treated for the health condition since last Sunday.
At the Elim Convalescent Clinic, two persons were still
receiving treatment when our correspondent visited on Thursday.
The medical doctor at the hospital, who identified
himself as Dr. Balogun, said about 10 people have been admitted to the hospital
for treatment.
“They’ve been coming since Sunday and we’ve
been treating them and we’ve not recorded any casualty so far.
“We can only say that we’re treating gastroenteritis,
they’ve been stooling and vomiting.
“We can’t confirm if it’s cholera. We’ve discharged some
and two are still here,” Dr. Balogun said.
He added that officials from the state Ministry of Health,
including the Local Surveillance Officer, have visited the hospital.
At the Al-Sadiq Memorial Medical Services, there were
three patients receiving treatment when our correspondent visited. They were
all members of the Hausa community.
The three of them were all looking pale, dehydrated, and
weak.
But the MD of the hospital, Dr. Al-Sadiq Ozovehe said
they are responding to treatment and would get better soon.
“Some of them are from Isheri or Ogun state
but we’ve treated not less than 10 of them but no casualty recorded,” he said.
One of the patients who identified himself as Aminu Musa
said he doesn’t know how he got the disease.
“I’m just weak, my chest too is paining me. I was
stooling and vomiting but I’m feeling better,” he said while coughing.
At the Healal Specialist Hospital, an unspecified number
of people have been admitted and treated,
One of the attending doctors who did not want his name
mentioned said medics at the facility had been attending to patients with
gastroenteritis since Sunday.
“But there’s no cause for alarm, everything is under
control and the government officials have visited the hospital but I can’t give
you details because I’m not the only one attending to them,” he said.
Cleanliness
is better than sacrifice
Prof. Akande, who is also a former National
Chairman of the Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria noted that
gastroenteritis is caused by microbes (germs), viruses, and bacteria.
“It is mainly through the feaco-oral route of
transmission. It is spread through contaminated water and food. It can also
spread through contaminated surfaces (fomites) particularly children who pick
things and lick them,” he said.
The expert added that gastroenteritis is largely
preventable through proper hygiene.
“This includes prevention of contamination of water
sources and food and the prevention of houseflies from touching food. Frequent
handwashing can equally prevent gastroenteritis.
“Also, proper waste disposal is important for prevention.”
According to Akande, regular health education using
various media on causes and prevention of gastroenteritis will increase
awareness and help people to take proper action.
“Prevention of water and food contamination will curtail
gastroenteritis. The government needs to ensure the provision of potable water
and ensure environmental sanitation,” he said.
PUNCH Newspaper
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