Cholera Crisis Heightens in Nigeria

Cholera, an acute diarrheal infection caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water, is spreading widely in Nigeria, a country dealing with major public health issues. With its roots in contaminated water and unclean circumstances, cholera has grown in recent weeks, posing a serious threat to communities across the country.

World Health Organization (WHO) says that each year there are 1.3 to 4.0 million cases of cholera, and 21,000 to 143,000 deaths worldwide due to the disease. The WHO African region had a cumulative total of 332,269 cases as of February 2024 with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, and Nigeria accounting for 74% of the cumulative cases and 66% of all deaths reported. Many have pointed to the lack of access to clean water and proper hygiene as the reason for this breakout.

The United States National Institute of Health (NIH) says this is not alien as cholera and other water-borne diseases are bound to break out in developing countries like Nigeria. This is largely associated with the intake of contaminated water and inadequate sanitation procedures, aggravated by the start of the rainy season. NIH further says that the inhabitants of the northern region of Nigeria rely on hand-dug wells and contaminated ponds as drinking water sources, thus being a breeding ground for these water-borne diseases.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has declared the existing cholera outbreak to be a public health emergency, putting Nigeria at high risk of transmission and impact. Recent data shows that 53 deaths have been recorded out of 1,528 suspected cases across 31 States and 107 Local Government Areas in the country.

Lagos State Commissioner of Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi noted that following recent rains, Lagos State has seen a notable increase in cases of severe vomiting and watery stools, adding that urban slums and crowded areas with poor sanitation are particularly at risk of this disease.

The Federal Government of Nigeria is said to have swung into action as many states around the nation are receiving consumables, test kits, and other materials, including PPEs (Personal Protection Equipment). In addition to this, experts around the nation are providing mass sensitization about the disease and its severe consequences, especially to people who reside in the rural areas of the country. This sensitization is said to also include teaching these people how to sanitize their food and help them cultivate healthy hygiene and sanitation practices in order to protect themselves and their loved ones from this disease.

In a bid to quickly salvage this situation, the NCDC has seen the need for the activation of the National Cholera Multi-Sectoral Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in Nigeria. The Director General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris said that this was in response to the dynamic risk assessment conducted by experts in the country. He stated that the EOC would act as the focal point for response coordination across the country, as well as support affected states by facilitating rapid communication, data analysis, and decision-making processes, mobilizing resources, expertise, and support from across the NCDC, partners, and stakeholders at all levels of government.

This crisis has highlighted the urgent need for permanent solutions like improved water and sanitation infrastructure around the country. While the focus remains on managing the outbreak and treating the affected people, Nigeria must see this as a moment for change as this could shape the approach to public health issues for years to come.