By DORCAS PANKYES
THE Federal Ministry of Environment has expressed deep concern over the ongoing cholera outbreak in some states of the country which has claimed many lives and affected numerous communities.
According to recent reports from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), there have been a total of 1159 suspected cases, 65 confirmed cases and 30 deaths across 30 states including Bayelsa, Lagos, Zamfara, Abia, Bauchi, Cross River, Ebonyi, Delta and Katsina.
The ministry had been actively involved in efforts to break the transmission of the disease through various measures such as water and food testing to identify sources of infection, environmental sanitation campaigns and household water chlorination.
They are also working to support the most affected states with chlorine solution/tablets, water and food testing resources, IEC materials and technical advisory.
The ministry urged Nigerians to be vigilant, practice good sanitation and hygiene and take preventive measures such as keeping the environment clean, using clean and safe water, avoiding contaminated drinks, washing hands regularly and avoiding open defecation.
It also called on commissioners of environment and local government chairmen to support environmental health officers in stepping up sanitation and hygiene activities to prevent further transmission of the disease.
The NCDC further urged sub-national governments to strengthen environmental health surveillance in eating premises like markets, restaurants and mobile food vendors.
The ministry emphasized that cholera is preventable and called on all Nigerians to take preventive measures seriously and keep their environments clean.
