Cholera: Does Ambode need to impose one more sanitation day on Lagosians?

Ebola came and we conquered. So it is surprising that a country that could manage the crisis of such an outbreak and break through the shackles that dreaded disease would still be reporting casualties from Cholera. Worst still, a state like Lagos. The state has recorded two notable cholera outbreaks since 2013. We reported the first here and the second, just yesterday.

Is it the government that is not doing enough? Or does the fault lie with the people? Lagos State enforces weekly sanitation exercises for traders to go along with the monthly general exercise. Do they need to do more or that in itself is just not enough to pass the message of cleanliness across?

Lagos govt warns against cholera outbreak, gives possible solutions

As at yesterday, we already had six deaths reported in Isolo area of Lagos. Investigations show that majority of the victims had previously eaten the local salad called ‘abacha’. Further investigations proved the fearful; quite a handful of strains of Vibrio cholerae the leading cause of cholera as well as other gastric infectious species were found in samples of the salad and well water collected from the area in question.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Vibrio cholerae thrives in unclean water and poorly sanitized environment and can easily be transmitted from person to person through contact with feces of contaminated individuals.

Now the question is this: in 2016 is there any need to further emphasize the importance of proper sanitation and cleanliness to the Nigerian people. Looks like it. Maybe Governor Ambode needs to impose one more day of sanitation on Lagosians. Just as punishment or something.

But it doesn’t end with the people. The government is still a little to blame. With many parts of Lagos still without access to clean pipe-borne water, it is no wonder that people will turn to drinking unsafe well water. In 2016! What is happening Dear Lagos Water Corporation? Are we still waiting for a white saviour philanthropist to come and establish water projects for the people of the mega city?

Enough of the blame game. Here a few important things we can do now that we are in this sad situation besides maintaining the highest level of cleanliness an utmost responsibility in choosing what we ingest.

  1. When symptoms such as diarrhea (heavy stooling accompanied with vomiting), dehydration, and muscle cramps are observed it is important to get such person to a health care facility. It’s probably not just a runny stomach. It might be cholera. And cholera is deadly.
  2. PLEASE HELP PEOPLE! The disease is not likely to spread from person to person.  There is no need to avoid casual contact with an infected person. It is the feces of the infected person we should be weary of.
  3. Often times, after symptoms have subsided, cholera bacterium can still be found in feces of affected persons for months after, thus the need to always wash hands thoroughly after the use of the toilets. And at all times too. You never know where that Naira note has been.
  4. Person(s) suffering from diarrhea should avoid cooking for others.
  5. Cholera is an easily treatable disease. Says the WHO. The website reads: “Up to 80% of people can be treated successfully through prompt administration of oral rehydration salts (WHO/UNICEF ORS standard sachet).” Another important treatment is the administration of antibiotics to heal the diarrhea but the World Health Organisation warns against “mass administration of antibiotics as it has no effect on the spread of cholera and contributes to increasing antimicrobial resistance.”

And finally, cholera treatment centres (CTCs) need to be set up within the affected communities, to reduce fatality rates. So Governor Ambode?

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

cool good eh love2 cute confused notgood numb disgusting fail