In response to the recent cholera outbreak in Nigeria that has claimed 30 lives, coordinated action is essential to contain the spread of the disease and prevent further fatalities.
Development Diaries reports that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) recently alerted the public to the increasing trend of cholera cases across the country, as a total of 1,141 suspected and 65 confirmed cases have been reported from 96 local government areas in 30 states.
The public has been advised to ensure that water is boiled and stored in a clean and covered container before drinking.
Asides the establishment of emergency response teams and setting up treatment centres to provide immediate care, there should be public health education campaigns to inform communities about how to protect themselves from cholera.
It is also of vital importance to educate communities on how to recognise cholera symptoms and encourage them to seek prompt medical attention to help reduce mortality rates.
Also, health workers can play a vital role in these efforts by conducting door-to-door visits to ensure the message reaches everyone, especially in remote or underserved areas.
In the long term, addressing the root causes of cholera outbreaks requires investing in sustainable infrastructure improvements.
The construction and maintenance of reliable water supply systems, sewage treatment facilities, and proper waste disposal mechanisms should be of priority to state governments.
Also, strengthening the health system’s capacity to respond to outbreaks through better surveillance, training of health care workers, and stockpiling essential medical supplies will ensure a more resilient response to future health emergencies.
Development Diaries calls on the Federal Ministry of Health, their state equivalents, the NCDC, and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to strengthen health care systems and make them able to manage the current outbreak and also mitigate the risk of future occurrences.
Also, the NCDC should raise more awareness, especially for people who do not have access to digital platforms.
Photo source: BBC
