Cholera: FG launches sanitation intervention response

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

The Federal government has flagged off National Environmental Sanitation Response intervention to address cholera outbreak in the country.

Minister of State for Environment, Sharon Ikeazor, made the disclosure yesterday at Bazango community, Kubwa-
Abuja yesterday.

She said the community is currently the epi-centre in the FCT.

Ikeazor represented by the permanent secretary of the ministry, Able Olumuyiwa, said Nigeria is currently experiencing cholera outbreak in several parts of the country with reported cases of fatalities.

“Latest situation report from Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) released on 17TH August, 2021, indicated a total number of 37,498 suspected cases including 1,149 deaths in 24 states and FCT.

She said; “It is against this background that we flag off our response activities to the increasing rate of spread of cholera cases across the country.

The minister explained that, the ministry is sensitizing the general public on cholera preventive and control measures to avert further outbreaks and strengthen collaboration with NCDC and other stakeholders in tackling the cholera scourge.

“The Federal Ministry of Environment in collaboration with relevant stakeholders including Environmental Health Officer’s (EHO’s) in the states and local government have commenced the nationwide intervention response activities covering sanitation inspection of premises/Environmental Health Surveillance of hotspot communities, treatment of contaminated water sources and sites.”

She stated that, the Federal Ministry of Environment will commence the construction of a modern toilet with borehole and solar powered pump in the community before the end of the year as part of its efforts to eradicate the scourge.

Also,speaking, the UNICEF
Water Hygiene, and Sanitation Manager(WASH), Micheal Forson, said 49% of the reported cases are women, while 26% are children ages 5-14, saying that 15% are under 5years.

He said environmental sanitation measures have been proven globally to be key for effective infection prevention.

Forson revealed that these are control measures that greatly aid in halting the spread of cholera transmission and ultimately eradicating the disease.