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| JUST-IN: Nigeria Records 2,102 Cholera Cases, 63 Deaths in 33 States |
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported 2,102 suspected cases of cholera and 63 deaths across 33 states and 122 local government areas (LGAs) in the country.
Dr. Jide Idris, Director-General of NCDC, disclosed this during a media conference on the cholera outbreak response update in Abuja. He highlighted that Bayelsa, Abia, Zamfara, Bauchi, Katsina, Cross River, Ebonyi, Rivers, and Delta States are among the top 10 states contributing approximately 90% of the cases.
Dr. Idris stated, “Only 123 (16%) of 774 LGAs in Nigeria are open defecation free, with Jigawa being the only state entirely free from open defecation. Over 48 million Nigerians practice open defecation.”
He identified inadequate toilet facilities, poor sanitation, and lack of safe water as major factors hindering cholera eradication in the country. He noted that only 11% of schools, 6% of health facilities, and 4% of motor parks and markets have access to basic water, sanitation, and hygiene services.
Dr. Idris also pointed out poor waste management, inadequate food, environmental and personal hygiene practices, and a capacity gap among healthcare workers at the state and LGA levels as additional challenges.
However, he mentioned that the recently activated National Cholera Multisectoral Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) is providing strategic coordination to combat the outbreak. This includes efforts in coordination, surveillance, case management, infection prevention and control, risk communication, and community engagement.
Other areas of focus include water sanitation and hygiene, vaccination, logistics, and research, with a costed incidence action plan for the response being developed and implemented. Dr. Idris added that these measures will help facilitate rapid communication, data analysis, and decision-making.
