The Federal Government has issued a warning that the rising levels of flooding and ongoing rainfall may exacerbate the spread of cholera in the country.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Terlumum, expressed this concern during a press conference on Thursday.
He reported that as of Wednesday, July 3, 2024, there have been 63 deaths and 2,102 suspected cases of cholera since the outbreak began.
The recent heavy rains have caused flooding in several states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), leading the minister to urge local governments to intensify efforts in clearing drainages.
He said, “We are calling on states and local government councils, to intensify and step up efforts to avert flood-related disasters in their domains as we approach the peak of the flooding season.
“At the national, some states have started experiencing some level of flooding and its associated disaster as of April this year. So far, more than three states such as FCT have experienced high levels of flooding, with several casualties recorded, including displacement of people and loss of properties.”
The minister stated that there has not been any release of water from dams within or outside Nigeria.
For the Kainji and Jebba Dams on the River Niger, he mentioned that water is still being held in their reservoirs.
He indicated that river flooding is anticipated to begin this month, with the states likely to be affected including Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Adamawa, Benue, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Jigawa, Kogi, Kebbi, Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa, Ondo, Ogun, Rivers, Taraba, and the FCT.
“Clearing of blocked drainage systems and canals, replications of people living along waterways and states and local governments, are encouraged to desilt river channels and canals in their respective constituents, to collect runoff water is part of the recommendation file for flood motifs,” he advised.
His call came days after the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Jide Idris, confirmed that the death toll from the ongoing cholera outbreak had risen to 63, with 2,102 suspected cases.
Idris stated that cases have now been recorded across 122 local government areas in 33 of the country’s 36 states, including the FCT.
He added that approximately 90 percent of the cases were reported in 10 states, with seven of these states located in the southern region.
“Of the top 10 states, Lagos, Bayelsa, Abia, Zamfara, Bauchi, Katsina, Cross River, Ebonyi, Rivers, and Delta that contribute about 90 per cent of the cases, seven of them are southern states,” Mr Idris said.
He attributed the outbreak to the ingestion of contaminated food and water, even as he expressed the country’s capacity to curtail further spread despite the challenges posed by the culture of open defecation.
Activation Of Emergency Operation Centre
Earlier, Idris said the agency had activated the National Cholera Multi-Sectoral Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) to coordinate what he described as a robust response to nationwide cholera cases.
He said the NCDC activated the EOC after conducting a dynamic risk assessment.
“In response to the rapidly increasing cholera cases, a dynamic risk assessment was conducted by subject matter experts on the cholera outbreak situation in Nigeria last week,” the NCDC boss said.
“The subject matter experts were drawn from relevant Ministries (Health, Environment, Agriculture, Water Resources, etc.), Departments, Agencies, stakeholders, and major partners. The outcome of the risk assessment placed the country at “High Risk” of increased risk of cholera transmission and impact”.
Identified Challenges
While addressing the president, the Director General highlighted several challenges in combating cholera, such as open defecation, inadequate toilet facilities, and poor sanitation.
He noted that despite these challenges, the government has shown strong political will to control the outbreak. An inter-ministerial cabinet committee has been established to support the response efforts.
The minister said, “Only 123 (16 per cent) of 774 LGAs in Nigeria are open defecation free, with Jigawa being Nigeria’s only open defecation-free state—more than 48 million Nigerians practice open defecation. Inadequate and existing toilet facilities are not well maintained, even in many government facilities.
“Inadequate safe water and poor sanitation: 11 per cent of schools, six per cent of health facilities, four per cent of motor parks and markets, have access to basic water, sanitation and hygiene services.”
He also listed other challenges, including waste management practices, food, environmental and personal hygiene practices, and the capacity gap among healthcare workers at the state and LGA levels.
“Weak regulation on the construction of soak-away and boreholes (some sunk close to a water source and boreholes sunk in the wrong location). Inadequate implementation and enforcement of public nuisance law and other relevant public health laws are some other challenges,” he added.
Idris further noted that the inadequate state-level capacity leads to delayed disease reporting and response at state and local levels.
“Additionally, poor regulation of food vendors and commercial water supply compromises hygiene standards, while weak regulation allows boreholes and wells to be situated near sewage or toilet pathways,” he added.
He emphasised that low knowledge and practice of basic hygiene practices, such as hand washing and the exacerbating effects of climate change and flooding, are hindering efforts to contain the outbreak.
Global Re-Emergence Of Cholera
In June, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported the resurgence of cholera cases across Africa, East Asia, the Americas, Europe, and the Eastern Mediterranean region.
According to WHO data, approximately 195,000 cholera cases were reported in these five regions between January and May.
Africa ranked as the region with the second-highest number of cholera cases, recording 92,789 cases across 14 countries. The Eastern Mediterranean region had the highest number, with over 98,000 cases reported in seven countries.
In terms of fatalities, Africa had the highest number with 1,698 deaths, while the Eastern Mediterranean region reported 256 deaths.
WHO noted that this data includes both suspected and confirmed cases of the disease.