June 13, 2024

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has alerted the Nigerian public to the increasing number of cholera cases across the country.

In a statement by the centre on Wednesday, it noted that 10 states have contributed 90% to the burden of cholera, as  1,141 suspected and confirmed 65 cases of cholera with 30 deaths  reported from 96 LGAs in 30 states.

The States include: Bayelsa, Zamfara, Abia, Cross River, Bauchi, Delta, Katsina, Imo, Nasarawa and Lagos States.

According to the statement, the multi-sectoral National Cholera Technical Working Group, led by the NCDC and comprising the Federal Ministries of Environment and Water Resources, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and other partners, has been providing support to the affected states.

It advised the public, to ensure that water is boiled and stored in a clean and covered container before drinking.

Other advice includes practising good personal hand hygiene by washing your hands frequently with soap under clean running water, using alcohol-based hand sanitiser if soap and clean water are not available, ensuring that food is well cooked before consumption, only consuming raw food such as fruits and vegetables, after washing thoroughly with safe water.

“After cooking food or boiling water, protect against contamination by flies and unsanitary handling; leftover foods should be thoroughly reheated before ingestion. Persons with diarrhoea should not prepare or serve food or haul water for others.

“Avoid open defecation, indiscriminate refuse dumping, ensure proper disposal of waste and frequent clearing of sewage.

“If you or anyone you know experience sudden watery diarrhoea, please do not self-medicate, visit a healthcare facility immediately,” the centre advised the public.