Still On The Scourge Of Cholera

Recently, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC),  in its latest  cholera situation epidemiological report  announced a total of 1,336 suspected cases of cholera, including 79 deaths, so far in 2023.

The report revealed that 43 local government areas (LGAs) across 12 states reported the suspected cases, with a case fatality ratio of 5.9 per cent.

The 12 states reporting  Cholera cases in the country are Abia, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Cross River, Ebonyi, Kano, Katsina, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Sokoto, and Zamfara.

It pertinent to also recall that last year NCDC, had announced a total of 19,228 suspected cases of cholera, including 466 deaths. 

In the considered opinion of this newspaper, this is an emergency that should be taken seriously by government at all levels .

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It is instructive to note that cholera is an acute diarrhoeal disease caused by Vibrio cholerae bacteria. It is passed on from faeces through contaminated food, drinks, and unhygienic environments. It also causes severe dehydration. The number of cholera cases tends to increase with the onset of the rainy season. The risk of death from cholera is higher when treatment is delayed. 

Needless to say , the government must do everything possible to avoid a repeat of 2010. We recall that in 2010,  Nigeria had its worst cholera outbreak in recent years, with nearly 40,000 cases and more than 1,500 deaths reported according to a  United Nations cholera report. In 2014, Nigeria recorded 35,996 cases and in 2015, 2,108 cases were reported, with 97 deaths. Suffice it to say, cholera has become a recurring decimal in the country’s health matters.

Sadly enough, in our opinion, cholera is largely associated with rural communities and among poor people with deficient  nutrition, poor water quality, and  lack of adequate sanitation facilities.

Even with these shortfalls it is still not receiving the desired attention from the government.

Experts have advised that washing hands frequently with soap under clean running water can prevent infectious diseases including cholera. This is especially important after defecation and before handling food or eating.

Also, avoiding open defecation and indiscriminate refuse dumping which contribute to the spread of cholera are measures required if the disease must be effectively combated. Similarly,  access to clean water, proper sanitation, and hygiene are some of the conditions that can check the spread of cholera. Needles to say that these are critical measures urgently needed in other to effectively prevent cholera cases and outbreaks. 

According to international health reports,  Nigeria is among the nations in the world with the highest number of people practicing open defecation, estimated at over 46 million people. The practice brings with it significant health risks, linked to deaths from diarrhea, cholera, and typhoid.

In 2016, Nigeria launched an action plan to end open defecation by 2025. The plan involves providing equitable access to water, sanitation, and hygiene services and strengthening tailored community approaches to total sanitation.

However, financial constraints have put the target in jeopardy. Nigeria needs an estimated N959 billion ($2.7 billion) to end open defecation by 2025. Of that, the government is expected to provide around 25 per cent, or N234 billion — justified because the country loses N455 billion annually to poor sanitation.

We also recall that based on World Bank estimates, Nigeria will be required to triple its budget or at least allocate 1.7 percent of the current Gross Domestic Product to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).

Therefore, we call on the federal and state governments to step up efforts to provide equitable access to water, sanitation, and hygiene services. The government should also ensure the sustainability of water services in rural communities.

In like manner, the government should revive the campaign to end open defecation in the country. Also, we call on the government to step up surveillance to detect and monitor the spread of the disease in the country. 

 It is essential to improve access to clean water and sanitation facilities. This can be achieved through investments in infrastructure, such as building wells and sewage treatment plants, as well as through public education campaigns that teach people about the importance of proper hygiene and hand washing.

In addition to improving access to clean water and sanitation, it is also important to strengthen the country’s public health system. This means investing in trained medical professionals, as well as in the supplies and equipment needed to effectively diagnose and treat cholera.

The government must break the cycle as Cholera keeps reoccurring every year. We also insist that hand-washing campaigns have to be reignited across the country. The way the government campaigned vigorously for the Covid-19 protocols, the same courtesy should be extended to the handwashing campaign across the country, especially in rural areas.

Furthermore, Nigeria must work with international organisations and other countries to learn from their successes and failures in the fight against cholera. This could include sharing best practices for preventing and controlling outbreaks, as well as collaborating on research and development efforts to find new and more effective ways to combat the disease.

Ending cholera in Nigeria will not be easy, but it is a goal that is well within reach. By addressing the root causes of cholera transmission and working together with the global community, we can finally put an end to this devastating disease in our country.

We must do everything possible to eliminate Cholera.