FG Moves to Contain Cholera Outbreak with Urgent Water Quality Testing

Alhaji Aliyu Shinkafi

FG will start analyzing the water quality to stop the cholera outbreak.

FG Launches Urgent Water Quality Analysis to Contain Cholera Outbreak: 30 Lives Lost, 1,141 Cases Reported Across 30 States - Read More About the Government's Swift Response to Stem the Spread of the Deadly Disease.

A cholera outbreak that has killed thirty people in several states has prompted the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation to launch an investigation into the quality of the water.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Aliyu Shinkafi, has stated that the continuous reports of the epidemic in different parts of the nation make this step imperative.

Shinkafi emphasized the seriousness of the issue by pointing out that cholera, which is brought on by the Vibrio cholerae bacteria, spreads quickly through contaminated food or drink.

The illness can be fatal if left untreated and symptoms include vomiting, severe dehydration, and diarrhea.

“In response to the outbreak, teams from the National Water Quality Reference Laboratories in Lagos, Enugu, and Sokoto have been dispatched to collect water samples and investigate the presence of Vibrio cholerae in the affected areas,” he said.

In addition, through the WASH in Emergency Technical Working Group (WIETWG), the ministry is working with State Technical Working Groups and Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agencies (RUWASSAS) to handle the outbreak in its entirety.

Shinkafi clarified that state working groups had previously received training from the National WASH in Emergency Technical Working Group on readiness, preventive, and response tactics, in addition to preparing for water safety and promoting hygiene.

These states are now pushing campaigns against open defecation, a recognized means of disease transmission, in an effort to curb cholera incidence. They have also stepped up their community outreach activities.

“Let's wash fruits and vegetables with safe water and salt before eating,” he advised. “Let's also seek medical attention immediately If experiencing symptoms of cholera, such as vomiting, severe dehydration, and diarrhea. Together, we can overcome this challenge and prevent further loss of lives.”

According to the NCDC, since January 2024, 1,141 probable cases of cholera have been reported throughout 30 states as of June 11, 2024. Ninety percent of the cases were reported in ten states: Lagos, Abia, Delta, Imo, Katsina, Nasarawa, and Zamfara; Bayelsa had more than 400 cases.