Kwara Government Mobilizes Against Potential Cholera Outbreak

The Kwara State Government has issued an alert to healthcare surveillance teams across all 16 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in preparation for possible cholera outbreaks.

Mr. Gbenga Falade, the Chief Press Secretary of the Kwara Ministry of Health, informed the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Ilorin that the Ministry has also launched an awareness campaign.

“This campaign includes radio jingles on preventive measures against cholera and how people can protect themselves,” Falade stated.

Reports indicate that cases of severe gastro-enteritis have surfaced in communities around Eti-Osa, Lagos Island, Ikorodu, and Kosofe LGAs of Lagos State.

Falade assured that the state ministry is closely monitoring developments and has taken proactive measures to prevent any outbreak in Kwara State.

“The ministry will take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of its citizens,” he affirmed.

Additionally, Prof. Tanimola Akande from the Department of Public Health at the University of Ilorin emphasized the importance of proper sanitation, particularly the correct disposal of faecal waste, to prevent cholera.

Prof. Akande, who also serves as a Consultant Public Health Physician at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), stressed other preventive measures such as food and water hygiene.

He described cholera as an acute diarrhoeal disease caused by Vibrio cholerae, noting that it is primarily waterborne and potentially life-threatening.

He highlighted vaccination as a highly cost-effective measure in controlling cholera epidemics, though he noted that it should not be the sole approach.

“Vaccination is one of the cost-effective measures in the control of cholera epidemics. Cholera vaccination alone is not used for control of the epidemic of cholera,” he explained.

Akande underlined the necessity for comprehensive preventive measures, including adequate food hygiene, water supply, and sanitation, to effectively combat the disease.