The Minority Leadership in the House of Representatives has expressed concern over the alarming rise in cholera cases across 30 states in Nigeria as reported by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
The Minority Leader of the House, Kingsley Chinda, said the outbreak highlighted critical deficiencies in public health safety measures and underscored the urgent need for immediate action.
Chinda, who spoke via a statement he released to journalists yesterday, said the announcement of cholera outbreaks in 30 States was a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities within the nationās public health infrastructure.
The statement read, āThe Minority leadership of the House of Representatives is deeply concerned by the alarming rise in cholera cases across thirty states in Nigeria, as reported by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). This outbreak highlights critical deficiencies in public health safety measures and underscores the urgent need for immediate action.
āThe Nigeria Centre for Disease Controlās announcement of cholera outbreaks in thirty states is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities within our public health infrastructure. The lack of adequate investment in public and personal health education has contributed significantly to the spread of this preventable disease.
āCholera, a waterborne disease, thrives in conditions where access to clean water and sanitation is compromised.ā
The current outbreaks are exacerbated by inadequate sanitation facilities and poor hygiene practices, particularly in densely populated areas and communities with limited access to clean water.
āAs schools across the nation resume from the recent public holidays, there is an urgent need to declare a state of emergency on cholera. This declaration will enable coordinated efforts at all levels of government to deploy resources swiftly towards containing the outbreaks, improving sanitation infrastructure, and intensifying public health education campaigns.