The Federal Government of Nigeria has advised citizens to refrain from consuming locally made beverages such as kunu, zobo, and fura to mitigate the risk of cholera. This announcement was made by Iziaq Salako, the Minister of State for Environment, in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday.
Salako emphasized the importance of maintaining high standards of sanitation and hygiene both at home and in the workplace. He urged the public to keep their environments clean and to properly dispose of waste in designated areas.
The minister also highlighted the necessity of using clean and safe water. He advised that water from dubious sources should be boiled or treated with chlorine, suggesting the addition of one pack of chlorine solution to 100 parts of water as a precautionary measure.
Additionally, Salako recommended avoiding locally prepared drinks like kunu, zobo, fura da nono, koko, and fruit juice unless their preparation is confirmed to be hygienic and safe.
He stressed the importance of regular handwashing with soap under running water, especially after using the toilet, cleaning a child who has used the toilet, before preparing food, before and after eating, and after playing with animals.
Salako called on State and Local Governments to enhance environmental health surveillance in places where food and drinks are sold, such as markets, garages, schools, restaurants, stadia, and venues for religious and sporting events. He noted that these measures would help prevent the spread and transmission of cholera.
The minister also urged Commissioners for Environment and Local Government Chairpersons to support environmental health officers in intensifying sanitation and hygiene activities through enhanced community-led total sanitation.
He encouraged collaboration with health authorities and other stakeholders in line with the federal government’s one health approach.
Arrangements have been made to support the most affected states with chlorine solution or tablets, and resources for water and food testing to prevent further transmission of the disease.
A recent report from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) indicated a total of 1,159 suspected cholera cases, 65 confirmed cases, and 30 deaths across 30 states. The most affected states, contributing 90% of the total cases, include Bayelsa, Lagos, Zamfara, Abia, Bauchi, Cross River, Ebonyi, Delta, and Katsina.
The Ministry of Environment has been actively involved in efforts to curtail the transmission of cholera through water and food testing to identify sources of infection, environmental sanitation campaigns, and household water chlorination.
Salako explained that cholera is driven by poor sanitation and hygiene and is an acute diarrheal infection caused by ingesting food or water contaminated with Vibrio cholerae bacteria. The disease remains a significant global public health threat, affecting both children and adults, and can be fatal if not treated promptly.
He described cholera as an extremely virulent disease with symptoms appearing between 12 hours and five days after infection. Early symptoms include frequent watery stools that are usually milky white, nausea, and vomiting.
Cholera outbreaks are a seasonal public health issue in Nigeria, occurring mainly during the rainy season in areas with poor sanitation and hygiene practices. Extreme climate events like flooding also contribute to the spread of the disease.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed a global resurgence of cholera cases, classifying the current outbreak as a “grade three public health emergency,” which necessitates a maximal WHO system-wide response.
Nigeria is one of 14 African countries experiencing this resurgence.
