Lagos opens emergency centre, UNICEF urges water provision

Following the outbreak of Cholera in Lagos, the state government has activated its Public Health Emergency Operations Centre at Mainland Hospital, Yaba.

This is as the United Nations Children’s Fund urged the Lagos State Government to urgently provide high-standard water and sanitation facilities to communities to curb the disease.

According to a Sunday statement on the government’s website, PHEOC was convened to address the increasing number of severe gastroenteritis cases across multiple local government areas in Lagos.

The statement noted that the state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, disclosed this while speaking on steps taken to control the outbreak in Lagos.

The state Ministry of Health, on Saturday, confirmed 350 suspected cases of cholera in 29 wards across multiple LGAs in the state, with 17 confirmed cases and 15 deaths.

“The laboratory investigation and test results have so far confirmed Cholera sub-type O-1. This subtype is associated with more severe disease. The pattern of new cases per day varies across LGAs, according to our ongoing surveillance and monitoring updates.

“Although this is an increase from the numbers published three days ago, cases are now dramatically subsiding in previously affected LGAs due to our interventions and surveillance efforts, however, we are recording some new cases in previously unaffected LGAs, signalling the need for residents to adhere strictly to precautionary, personal, and environmental hygiene measures,” the commissioner said.

The According reports that the Chief of UNICEF Lagos Field Office, Celine Lafoucrier, on Saturday, said to reduce fatality associated with cholera, the state government must strengthen its healthcare systems and make them capable of responding to the demand in times of outbreaks.

The international organisation also urged the state government to ensure the availability of standard water.

Lafoucrier said, “Addressing the challenges of cholera outbreaks requires a deliberate focus of state policies to provide high-standard water and sanitation facilities, as well as strengthened healthcare systems capable of responding to the demand in times of outbreaks, and state-led educational campaigns on cholera prevention to protect children and the population at large.

“To alleviate cholera outbreaks, a comprehensive approach is essential. Sustainable WASH infrastructure and strengthened health systems capable of anticipating epidemics as well as, effective community engagement strategies are crucial to halt transmission.”