By Stanley Onyeka, Lagos
The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has said the recurrent outbreaks of cholera in Nigeria, expose children and the larger population to substantial health risks.
A statement by the Chief of Lagos UNICEF Field Office, Celine Lafoucrier, on Saturday, in response to cholera outbreak in Lagos and other parts of the country, said children faced substantial health risks, particularly those under five prone to severe dehydration and higher mortality rate.
Urging the government to focus on providing clean and risk-free water to prevent the spread of cholera in the country, Ms Lafoucrier noted that despite the state government’s efforts, the current outbreak underscores the need for an urgent intervention.
She said: “Addressing the challenges of cholera outbreaks requires a deliberate focus of state policies, and these include provision of high-standard water and sanitation facilities as well as strengthened healthcare systems capable of responding to the demand in times of outbreaks.
“There should be campaigns on cholera prevention to protect children and the population at large.”
According to her, good water and sanitation infrastructure play a crucial role in reducing disease outbreaks, such as cholera, which causes an estimated 100,000 deaths annually.
These outbreaks strain Nigeria’s health system, diverting limited resources from essential services like routine immunisations and maternal and childcare, undermining universal health coverage.
Ms Lafoucrier continued: “Water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions are fundamental in preventing and responding to cholera epidemics. Safe water supplies, hygienic sanitation, and effective water management are key elements in this effort.
“Ultimately, preventing cholera centres on good sanitation and hygiene practices. Key actions include proper disposal of faeces, eliminating open defecation, and ensuring access to potable water. Regular hand washing with clean, running water and soap is vital. “Additionally, avoiding the consumption of uncooked vegetables, unwashed fruits, raw or undercooked seafood, and food from street vendors is important to reduce the risk of cholera infection.”
She further noted that safer water can annually prevent 1.4 million child deaths from diarrhoea, 500,000 deaths from malaria, and 860,000 child deaths from malnutrition.
She said that it could also protect 10 million people from serious illnesses such as lymphatic filariasis and trachoma.
She said the disease outbreaks ultimately hinder Nigeria’s progress in achieving health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3, which focuses on ensuring healthy lives and well-being for all.
“These outbreaks strain Nigeria’s health system, diverting limited resources from essential services like routine immunisations and maternal and childcare, undermining universal health coverage.
“However, outbreaks also present opportunities to strengthen Nigeria’s health system. Prevention is more cost-effective than cure; thus, communities should establish systems that promote key hygiene practices, transforming them into a cultural norm,” she said.
