- The government has recorded 1, 528 suspected cases of cholera in 31 states and 107 LG areas
- A dynamic risk assessment was conducted the result placed Nigeria at a "high risk" of cholera transmission and impact
- In response to this, the FG declared cholera a national crisis and activated an emergency operation centre
The cholera fatality rate was estimated to be at 3.5% since the beginning of the year 2024, with 1, 528 suspected cases and 53 deaths in 31 states and 107 local government areas as of June 24.
In response to the ongoing crisis, the Federal Government activated the National Cholera Multi-Sectoral Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) on June 24.
Nigeria at ‘high risk’ of cholera impact
Dr Jide Idris, Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), made this known while speaking with journalists in Abuja. He said the country is facing another public health disaster after recovering from the Meningitis outbreaks and Lassa fever.
Idris said experts conducted a dynamic risk assessment on Nigeria's cholera epidemic scenario last week in reaction to the fast-escalating cholera cases. The centre's risk assessment results placed Nigeria at "High Risk" of cholera transmission and impact.
“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. This demands our immediate and coordinated actions and, therefore, necessitated the activation of the National Cholera Multi-Sectoral Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in Nigeria today,” Idris explained.
Emergency centres will enable efficient deployment of resources
He further said that the fatalities were more than simply statistics but also represented the loss of loved family members, as well as seasoned healthcare staff and team members. He warned that if the rainy season progressed, the situation could worsen.
He added that the emergency centre would assist affected states by facilitating rapid communication, data analysis, and decision-making processes and mobilising resources, expertise, and assistance from across the NCDC, partners, and stakeholders at all levels of government.
The centre would enable the efficient deployment of necessary resources, develop surveillance and diagnostic capacities and capabilities, improve case management and training, and increase public awareness and community engagement efforts.
Idris additionally stated that an incident manager had been appointed who "will coordinate the day-to-day activities involving several pillars, such as surveillance (data collection, analysis, and dissemination), case management, oral cholera vaccine issues, coordination, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), Logistics Support, and Research."
As part of measures to fight against the cholera epidemic, Dr Idris further said that the NCDC would reach out to other stakeholders, including state governors, to try to find a long-term solution to the underlying causes of the cholera outbreak in the country.
Over 30 deaths were recorded across the country
Recall that the NCDC Director General, Dr Jide Idris, stated at the Adetokunbo Alakija Memorial Travel Medicine Lecture in Lagos on Wednesday, June 19, that the centre was monitoring the situation and would declare an emergency if data proved that the outbreak had progressed beyond a controllable level.
From January 1 to June 11, 2024, over 1,141 suspected and 65 confirmed cases of cholera, resulting in over 30 deaths, were recorded from 96 LGAs in 30 states, according to NCDC's report.
Olajide mentioned, “We have been tracking cholera cases and we are documenting them. For the last two or three weeks, the incidence shot up, with a rising number of deaths and that is why we started investigating and this is where Lagos State came in.”