The United Nations Children’s Fund(UNICEF) has advised Nigerians on ways to reduce the risks of cholera infection following the outbreak of the disease in Nigeria.
Recall that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) announced the outbreak, confirming 65 cases with 30 deaths.
UNICEF advised Nigerians to avoid the consumption of uncooked vegetables, unwashed fruits, raw or undercooked seafood, and food from street vendors.
The Chief of UNICEF Lagos Field Office, Celine Lafoucrier, who gave this advice in a statement, also urged Nigerians to practice good sanitation and hygiene.
“Ultimately, preventing cholera centres on good sanitation and hygiene practices. Key actions include proper disposal of faeces, eliminating open defecation, and ensuring access to potable water. Regular handwashing with clean, running water and soap is vital.
“Additionally, avoiding the consumption of uncooked vegetables, unwashed fruits, raw or undercooked seafood, and food from street vendors is important to reduce the risk of cholera infection,” she said.
Lafoucrier, however, noted that addressing the challenges of cholera outbreaks requires a deliberate focus of state policies to provide high-standard water and sanitation facilities, as well as strengthened healthcare systems capable of responding to the demand in times of outbreaks.
She added that the state should lead educational campaigns on cholera prevention to protect children and the population at large.
“Recurrent Cholera outbreaks critically affect children and populations at large. These vulnerable groups face substantial health risks, particularly those under five who are prone to severe dehydration and higher mortality rates.
“Educational disruption is yet another critical consequence of cholera outbreaks, as illness and the need to care for sick family members lead to school closures and reduced attendance, hindering children’s learning and development.
“Similarly, post-recovery issues in children can include malnutrition, stunted growth, and weakened immune systems, increasing susceptibility to other diseases,” she said.
Lafoucrier advised that sustainable WASH infrastructure and strengthened health systems capable of anticipating epidemics as well as effective community engagement strategies were crucial to halt transmission.
She explained that the WASH infrastructure includes enhancing water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure, implementing rapid surveillance, promoting social mobilisation, administering treatment, and utilising oral cholera vaccines.
She maintained that increasing access to safe drinking water, improving sanitation and hygiene, and better water management could prevent almost one-tenth of the global disease burden.
Lafoucrier lamented that the disease outbreaks could affect Nigeria’s progress on achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 3.
“Disease outbreaks ultimately hinder Nigeria’s progress in achieving health-related Sustainable Development Goals. These outbreaks strain Nigeria’s health system, diverting limited resources from essential services like routine immunisations and maternal and child care, undermining universal health coverage,” she said.
‘Avoid Food From Street Vendors, Unwashed Fruits’- UNICEF Speaks On Ways To Reduce Cholera Infection is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
