…suspected cases increase to 2,102, it adds

By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, says a total of 63 deaths have been recorded in the ongoing cholera outbreak in the country.

The agency equally said 2,102 suspected cases have been recorded across 33 states and 122 local government areas with a case fatality rate of 3.0% since the beginning of the year.

Director General of NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed these, Tuesday, in Abuja, at a press conference he held to provide an update on the cholera epidemiological situation in Nigeria and ongoing prevention and response efforts at the national and subnational levels.

“As of 30th June 2024, a total of 2,102 suspected cases and 63 deaths have been recorded across 33 states and 122 local government areas with a case fatality rate of 3.0% since the beginning of the year.

“Of the top 10 states (Lagos, Bayelsa, Abia, Zamfara, Bauchi, Katsina, Cross River, Ebonyi, Rivers and Delta) that contribute about 90% of the cases, seven of them are southern states, “he said.

Recall that NCDC had last week, announced activation of an Emergency Operation Centre, EOC,to coordinate cholera  outbreak response in the country.

Idris explained that,”The National Cholera Multisectoral Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) activated parades an array of subject matter, experts and provides strategic coordination, meets daily and provide periodic situation report for stakeholders.”

“This also ensures effective mobilization, harmonization and distribution of resources to support the affected states. This is done through the relevant thematic areas of response that cover coordination, surveillance, case management, infection prevention and control, risk communication and community engagement, water sanitation and hygiene, vaccination, logistics, research with a costed Incidence Action Plan for the response developed and being implemented.

“These will help facilitate rapid communication, data analysis, and decision-making. It will also ensure that we deploy resources efficiently, strengthen surveillance and diagnostic capacity, enhance treatment of affected persons, and intensify public awareness and community engagement activities, “he added.

According to the NCDC boss, “Prior to the activation of EOC, the NCDC, through the National Cholera Technical Working Group had conducted assessment of cholera readiness and preparedness capacity in 22 hotspot and high-burden states and report of gaps identified shared with the states, so as to guide their preparedness activities before the outbreak.

Others, according to him, are the provision of relevant guidelines, SOPs and advisories to states, with a view to guiding their technical readiness and how to respond to the outbreak, prepositioning and distribution of medical supplies for case management, infection prevention, and control, laboratory diagnosis, etc. to all 36 plus one states

Dr Idris, speaking on open defecation, said,” Only 123 (16%) of 774 local government areas in Nigeria are open defecation free.

“With Jigawa as the only open defecation free state in Nigeria. More than 48 million Nigerians practice open defecation

Inadequate toilet facilities and existing ones even in many government facilities not well maintained, “he said.

According to him,” 11% of schools, 6 % of health facilities, 4% of motor parks and markets, have access to basic water, sanitation and hygiene services. “