Nigeria has recorded a total of 2,102 suspected cholera cases and 63 deaths across 33 states and 122 LGAs as of 30 June, with a case fatality rate of 3.0 per cent since the beginning of this year.
Ten states including Lagos, Bayelsa, Abia, Zamfara, Bauchi, Katsina, Cross River, Ebonyi, Rivers and Delta account for about 90 per cent of the cases, with seven of them in the Southern part of the country.
The Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr Jide Idris disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday.
Dr Idris noted that prior to the activation of the EOC, the NCDC, through the National Cholera Technical Working Group had conducted assessment of cholera readiness and preparedness capacity in 22 hotspot and high-burden states.
He said the report of identified gaps was shared with the states to guide their preparedness activities before the outbreak.
He said some challenges being faced in the ongoing cholera response, includes open defecation, inadequate toilet facilities, inadequate safe water and poor sanitation.
He noted that only 123 (16 per cent) of 774 LGAs in Nigeria are open defecation free, with Jigawa as the only open defecation free state in Nigeria.
“More than 48 million Nigerians still practice open defecation. There are also issues with inadequate toilet facilities, even in many government facilities, which are not well maintained,” he said.
“Inadequate safe water and poor sanitation affect 11 per cent of schools, six per cent of health facilities, and four per cent of motor parks and markets. Poor waste management practices, poor food environmental and personal hygiene practices contribute to the problem.”
State Capacity
Dr Idris noted a capacity gap among healthcare workers at the state and LGA levels, as well as weak regulation on the construction of soakaways and boreholes (some sunk close to water sources or in improper locations).
He said “we have inadequate capacity at the state level – delayed disease reporting and response actions, a capacity gap among healthcare workers at the state and LGA levels, poor regulation of food vendors and commercial water supply on hygiene, and weak regulation on the sighting of boreholes and wells close to sewage or toilet pathways.”
He stated that the National Cholera Multisectoral Emergency Operation Centre, which has been activated, includes a team of subject matter experts and provides strategic coordination.
He said the Centre meets daily and issues periodic situation reports for stakeholders.
“This also ensures effective mobilization, harmonization and distribution of resources to support the affected states,” he said.
“This is done through the relevant thematic areas of response that cover coordination, surveillance, case management, infection prevention and control, risk communication and community engagement, Water Sanitation and Hygiene, Vaccination, Logistics, Research with a costed Incidence Action Plan for the response developed and being implemented.”
The NCDC boss said these will help facilitate rapid communication, data analysis, and decision-making.
“It will also ensure that we deploy resources efficiently, strengthen surveillance and diagnostic capacity, enhance treatment of affected persons, and intensify public awareness and community engagement activities,” he said.