Health is wealth! This is a popular saying among people of various works of life however, one’s health practice tends to differ from the other.
Despite advances in healthcare and sanitation, outbreaks of cholera persist, particularly during the rainy season when water sources become contaminated.
In a recent development, the outbreak of cholera -a bacterial disease causing severe diarrhoea and dehydration, usually spread in water- continues to pose a significant public health challenge in Nigeria.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) recently alerted the public on the increasing trend of cholera cases across the country as the rainy season intensifies.
As announced by NCDC, Nigeria has recorded 65 confirmed cases of Cholera with 30 deaths from 1 January to 11 June across 96 local governments in 30 states.
According to the NCDC, a total of 1,141 suspected cases have been recorded in 2024. Ten states contributed 90 per cent of the total number.
The states are Bayelsa, Zamfara, Abia, Cross River, Bauchi, Delta, Katsina, Imo, Nasarawa and Lagos.
It is important to note the symptoms of cholera in order to seek medical attention when necessary.
The symptoms include acute, painless watery diarrhoea of sudden onset, with or without vomiting. It may be associated with nausea, profuse vomiting and fever.
Severe cases can lead to death within hours due to dehydration, however, about 80 per cent of people may only show mild symptoms or have no symptoms at all, according to NCDC.
NCDC said that cholera can be prevented through ensuring access to safe, potable drinking water; proper sanitation and waste disposal and appropriate hygiene, including hand washing.
It is worthy to note that addressing cholera in Nigeria involves not only immediate medical response but also long-term strategies to improve water quality, sanitation, and public health infrastructure.
Cholera is fatal if not treated right away!
