The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), has put the death toll arising from cholera at 63 deaths, and put the suspected cases at 2,102 since the epidemic broke out across the country.
The Director-General of the centre, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this at a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja, noting that, as at June 30, Nigeria recorded 2,102 suspected cholera cases and 63 deaths across 33 states and 122 local government areas, with a case fatality rate of 3.0 per cent
According to Idris, NCDC the top 10 affected states are Lagos, Bayelsa, Abia, Zamfara, Bauchi, Katsina, Cross River, Ebonyi, Rivers, and Delta, with seven of these being in the south.
He revealed that the National Cholera Multisectoral Emergency Operation Centre (EOC), activated for cholera outbreak is multi-systemic, comprising of subject matter experts who coordinate the response, ensuring effective resource mobilisation, surveillance, case management, and community engagement, since the measures are aimed at enhancing diagnostic capacity, treatment, and public awareness.
The NCDC boss explained that there are key prevention and response activities initiated by the agency towards ensuring that the epidemic is contained.
“Such activities include assessments in 22 hotspot states, distribution of medical supplies, technical support, training programmes and public health advisories,” he said.
The NCDC boss said that in spite of strong political support and efforts, challenges like open defecation, inadequate toilet facilities, poor water and sanitation, waste management issues, and weak regulatory practices persisted.
He further said efforts are on the way to continue to combat the outbreak, with emphasis on improving hygiene practices, enforcing public health laws, and enhancing healthcare workers’ capacity at state and local levels.
Similarly, the Minister of State for Environment, Dr Iziaq Salako, stated that cholera outbreak in the country is a wake up call, and reminder that the country failed to prioritise environmental sanitation, public health would be jeopardised and economy would be affected.
“Nigeria is experiencing the adverse impact of climate change as evidenced by the shift in seasons, rising sea levels and more frequent extreme weather events like floods, droughts and heat waves with undeniable health consequences,” Salako said.
According to Salako, the combination of climate change and poor sanitation, without doubt, poses a double jeopardy to the health of the planet and all creatures on it.
Cholera, a virulent but treatable disease, and responsible for 95,000 global annual deaths.
