The most recent cholera situation report from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has unveiled alarming statistics: between January and August 27, 2023, cholera has claimed the lives of 84 individuals and infected a staggering 2,860 people.
These disheartening numbers span across 25 states, encompassing 124 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the nation. The affected states include Zamfara, Cross River, Katsina, Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Niger, Abia, Jigawa, Kano, Ondo, Borno, Kaduna, Bauchi, Sokoto, Plateau, Gombe, Oyo, Adamawa, Kebbi, Benue, Rivers, Ekiti, Imo, Osun, and Anambra.
In response to this situation, the NCDC is actively collaborating with the affected states, while a national multi-sectoral cholera Technical Working Group (TWG) is diligently overseeing the response efforts across these states.
To combat the further spread of this disease, the NCDC has issued a fervent call to action. They are urging all Nigerians to uphold good personal and environmental hygiene practices, including chlorinating their water sources and discontinuing open defecation.
Furthermore, the NCDC is appealing to the government and its partners in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) to promptly provide safe water access to communities. They are also advocating for the construction of sanitation and hygiene facilities, complete with boreholes, particularly in areas designated as cholera hotspots.
The epidemiological report paints a grim picture of the situation, with the Case Fatality Ratio (CFR) of cholera currently standing at 2.9 percent. Alarming trends show that the age groups most affected by this deadly disease are those under 5 years of age, followed closely by those aged 5 to 14 years, across both genders. In terms of gender distribution among suspected cases, males make up 51 percent, while females comprise 49 percent.
However, there is a glimmer of hope in these harrowing statistics. When compared to the same period in the previous year, suspected cholera cases have plummeted by a remarkable 63 percent in 2023. Additionally, cumulative deaths attributed to cholera have seen a significant reduction of 67 percent this year.
The report concludes: “As of August 27th, 2023, a total of 2,860 suspected cases, including 84 deaths (CFR 2.9 percent), have been reported across 25 states. Notably, Zamfara (787 cases) constitutes 28 percent of all suspected cases reported in the country among the 25 states with cholera cases. In Cross River State, Obubra LGA (515 cases) accounts for 18 percent of all suspected cases nationwide.
“Among the affected states, Cross River (718 cases), Katsina (302 cases), Bayelsa (265 cases), Ebonyi (227 cases), Niger (136 cases), and Abia (118 cases) collectively represent a staggering 62 percent of the suspected cases recorded this year.”