Expert Charges Tinubu on Re-enforcement of Sanitation Laws, Insists Long-term Investment, Collaboration Way Forward

July 15, 2024

By Olayinka Ajayi

A seasoned professor of Medicine based in the United States, Dr. Adebukola Ogundoyin, has raised the alarm on the need for President Bola Tinubu to, as a matter of urgency, re-enforce regulations on environmental sanitation and water quality year-round to prevent future outbreaks.

Ogundoyin while commending efforts made by the ministry of Health in battling the spread, stressed the need to improve sewage systems and waste management practices to prevent future Cholera outbreaks.

She insisted that by investing in long-term solutions, the government could effectively curb the current cholera outbreak and prevent future occurrences.

Her words: “There is an urgent need for robust government intervention in the control of the disease. To combat this disease, a multifaceted approach is required which includes immediate
action to control the epidemic, public health education, and infrastructural implementations to
address root causes of cholera and long-term plans to prevent future recurrence.

“Cholera is a life-threatening diarrheal illness caused by Cholera toxin-producing
strain of a bacteria named Vibrio cholerae. It is transmitted from the faecal – to the oral route. As a
result, this disease is transmitted from ingestion of contaminated food and water, and
it’s transmitted within households and between close contacts who are unfortunate
enough to be in contact with the organism.

“There is an estimated 3 million cases of Cholera annually worldwide with an estimate of about 100,000 fatalities.

“In 2024, Cholera affected 14 countries in West Africa including Nigeria, and cumulative
cases of 82,215 have been reported in the countries with about 1,507 deaths reported
(WHO). In Lagos state, about 113 cholera cases and seven deaths were recorded in
one week in June 2024. The patient will display cholera symptoms within 1-2 days of
incubation. Its symptoms include abdominal cramps and severe diarrhoea caused by profuse painless “rice water” stools characterized by specks of
mucous, fishy odour.”

She urged the government through the Ministry of Health to provide antibiotics to treat severe cases and added “The major cause of Cholera is poor sanitation and lack of access to
clean water and the major cause of death in Cholera is hypovolemic shock from severe
dehydration.

Emergency Health Services:

Ogundoyin urging the government to establish ‘well-equipped cholera treatment centres’ said “The centres should have the capacity to provide rapid Oral Rehydration Solutions and intravenous fluid when
needed and the center staff should be trained on rapid diagnosis and stabilization
techniques for the deadly disease. To improve access to much-needed emergency care,
the state and local authorities should engage in private practices to improve access.

“Private facilities should be engaged to provide standby care for patients, the states and
local authorities can enrol facilities that are interested in participating in the scheme with arrangements for adequate compensation.

“Quick identification of diseases and isolation of affected patients should be implemented. Water sources and sanitation of contaminated facilities should be prompt, the Public should be educated on the symptoms, prevention, and treatment through campaigns via mass media”.

She urged the government to ensure access to safe drinking water by setting up temporary water purification units, providing homes with filtration devices to purify their water supply at home, teach the community via landlord associations and organising community groups and via media communication on how to treat the water supply with chlorine, make chlorine available to the public for water disinfection, proper waste disposal and eradication of water sources blockages
should be implemented as contaminated water are major sources that harbour and cultivate the infection among other hygienic measures such as soap and water, hand sanitizing gel

Strengthening Health Systems:

Ogundoyin insisted that the government should invest more in healthcare infrastructure by ensuring facilities are equipped to manage future outbreaks.

“Train healthcare workers on cholera management and outbreak response
Improving sewage systems and waste management practices to prevent contamination
is paramount in the prevention of Cholera”, she said.

Legislation:

On legislation, Ogundoyin said: “the state and local authorities need to enforce regulations on water quality and sanitation year-round to prevent future outbreaks.

“Coordination and Collaboration with international and local organizations is important for
dissemination of information and financial and technical support where available.

“By implementing these immediate actions, while investing in long-term solutions, the government can effectively curb the current cholera outbreak and prevent future
occurrences”.