The authorities could do more to stop the recurring menace
In spite of the efforts by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to contain the current outbreak, Cholera is still spreading rapidly across the country.
Last night the number of the dead in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja rose to 60 while suspected cases rose from 604 to 698 within the last 72 hours. Between January and June, about 14,300 cases were reported from 15 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with 325 fatalities. There is need to scale up the national response to ensure that lives are saved.
Nigeria, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), has the highest burden of the water-borne disease in Africa. “Cholera is life-threatening. If you get contaminated with cholera bacteria and you do not receive appropriate treatment within 24 – 48 hours, you can pass on. Dysentery can give you some time to take care of yourself but not cholera,” said the United Nations Children’s
There is need to raise awareness on sanitation and personal hygiene
Cholera has remained a big health menace across the country, claiming no fewer than 289 lives between January and June. The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu said about 11,000 suspected cases have been reported with 112 confirmed cases. The number of cases has increased with increased rains in the last one month, while the most affected states are Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, Kano, Zamfara, Bayelsa and Kaduna. Seven people were confirmed killed in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja as of Wednesday. The mere fact that scores of precious lives are lost annually to cholera speaks to our failure to overcome our primitive living conditions.