A statement released by the Director, of Public Affairs,
Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, on Sunday, quoted the Lagos State Commissioner for
Health, Akin Abayomi, as saying an
outbreak of 25 cases of severe gastroenteritis caused by Cholera occurred at
Kirikiri Medium Security Prison, adding that urgent medical and environmental
intervention measures have been implemented with success.
“We were able to supply Kirikiri medium prison with
intravenous fluids, infection prevention and other health consumables.
Additionally, the World Health Organization (WHO) has donated 10,000 doses of
pharmaceuticals which have been delivered to the prison to support prison
health facilities with prevention strategies for about 3,200 inmates if
required. Immediate water and sanitation issues have been corrected and there
are ongoing inspections of other correctional facilities in the State,” the
Commissioner said.
The Lagos State Government also announced a significant
improvement in daily cholera cases from the spike reported two weeks ago. It,
however, acknowledged evidence of ongoing low-grade community transmission,
because few cases are still presenting to hospitals across the state.
While providing further updates on the cholera outbreak
following the “One Health” Inter-governmental agency strategic meeting held
over the weekend, Abayomi revealed that although no new cholera-related deaths
have been reported in the last 72 hours, the government was intensifying
countermeasures to eliminate transmission.
Abayomi noted that the reduction in new daily cases and the
absence of new deaths, indicated interventions are bearing dividends, however,
more importantly, residents are adhering to public health information and
advice on safety measures and the need for early presentation to health
facilities when symptoms develop.
Addressing the source of the original outbreak two weeks
ago, he disclosed that it has been traced to unregulated street beverages and
contaminated water supply.
He explained that many of the samples taken from popular
street beverages purchased by undercover environmental officers from the
Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) and the Ministry of Health in the
affected areas confirmed the presence of vibrio cholera bacteria which is the
cause of cholera.
“All of the containers had no NAFDAC accreditation numbers,
indicating they are small cottage backyard informal production units.
Identifying the precise location of manufacture has proven difficult and the
directorate of environmental health is planning to seal any such unregulated
manufacture and make arrests of anybody involved with the manufacture or
distribution of beverages without NAFDAC numbers,” Abayomi said.
He noted that the state government through its interagency
‘One Health’ approach, is enforcing environmental health countermeasures in
collaboration with Lagos Water Corporation and sanitation agencies (LAWMA and
LASWAMO) to ensure; widespread sanitation activities, inspection and
disinfection of boreholes, supplying of potable water to affected local
governments, and enforcement and stricter regulations on local beverage
manufacturers.
“Henceforth and as approved by Mr Governor, a higher
sanitary and regulatory standard of eateries, food handlers, beverage
manufacturers and groundwater will be implemented and enforced to curb the
burden of food and water-borne diseases in Lagos,” he added.
The commissioner emphasised the need for continued vigilance
and adherence to public health precautionary measures.
In addition to government interventions, he implored the
public to also take personal responsibility for consuming safe water, food, and
beverages, ensuring good personal hygiene, starting oral rehydration therapy,
and presenting immediately to hospitals if symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting
develop.
He noted that treatment of suspected cholera remains free of
charge in all government hospitals.
The commissioner indicated that there was no need for the
public to panic.
He expressed optimism that with continued collaboration,
vigilance, and commitment from all stakeholders, the state is taking decisive
actions to effectively combat and control the spread of cholera, safeguarding
the health and well-being of its residents.
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