DESPITE the frenetic efforts being made by the Lagos State government to end the scourge of cholera which broke out in Nigeria’s most populous state, the situation is yet to be brought under permanent control. On Wednesday, two new unconfirmed suspected cases were presented at the Professor Shaffdeen Amuwo Primary Health Centre, at Sura, on Lagos Island.
Cultivate personal hygiene- Chairman, Medical Guild, Abdulssallam tells Nigerians
Meanwhile, the chairman of Medical Guild, Lagos, Dr Maruf Abdussallam, has urged Nigerians to cultivate personal hygiene to prevent the spread the spread of cholera epidemic. According to him, every Nigerian is susceptible to cholera, but some people are more prone to contracting it than others.
Speaking on preventive measures earlier in an interview with Sunday Tribune, he added, “Everyone is susceptible because we all touch surfaces; we drink water and eat foods. But some people are more prone to contacting cholera than others. Importantly, people who live in slums and shanties and practise open defecation and those that don’t uphold personal hygiene are more susceptible than other members of the society.
“The highest case load is still in Lagos Island followed by Kosofe local government and Alimosho and interestingly, people in Ajeromi-Ifelodun and Ijora-Badia have lower numbers compared to people on the Island. Those slums in the urban areas are where cholera is concentrated.
“One of the things that can limit the spread of cholera is personal hygiene. Even when the bacteria are presence, once you cultivate the habit of personal hygiene, then you will be prevented from contracting the disease. Another is the environment: make your environment clean and try as much as possible to discourage open defecation. And, of course, encourage those who depend on pipe-borne water to boil the water before they drink. Also the state government can also help in the development of vaccine. The government needs to keep sensitising and educating the public on preventive measures.”
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