Cholera Outbreak: Need For Urgent Intervention

A few days ago, Nigerians woke up to hear that over 20 people had lost their lives as a result of an outbreak of cholera in Bayelsa State. While some put the figure at 20, other reports said at least up to 30 people were killed. In Anambra State, while eight were confirmed dead, 25 others were said to be receiving treatment for cholera.

We think this is not just an embarrassment to the government, but a shame on our leaders.. How else can one describe having to face an ailment as cholera which many countries have forgotten ever existed? It is unthinkable that while many countries are defeating major health challenges in the 21st century, the Nigerian health system remains very weak and unable to deal with even minor health challenges.

Today, a country like India which began the race for development with Nigeria is already treating kidney diseases, cancer and heart-related ailments. Our leaders are simply comfortable with going for treatment abroad when they are ill rather than equip hospitals in Nigeria to handle medical cases.

Cholera outbreak is usually associated with poverty as victims don’t have access to potable water and live in squalid conditions, which is very extreme in some parts of Nigeria. Contaminated food and water consumed in many communities in Nigeria expose the people to cholera and other deadly diseases. In many Nigerian villages, the only sources of water for drinking, washing and cooking are streams or rivers. Since the people have no other alternatives, they make do with the water no matter the level of contamination. This is happening in a country where huge sums of money is budgeted for provision of potable water annually.

It is more worrisome that many of these communities susceptible to diseases as a result of the way they live cannot even access basic health facilities. In times past, the Federal Government awarded contracts for health centres to be built in villages. These health centres only now exist in the imagination of the government.

Environmental sanitation was introduced in 1984 just like the War Against Indiscipline, WAI. Today, while the WAI is dead, environmental sanitation is only effective in urban centres while in the rural areas it is seen as a mere slogan. In this time and age, many houses in the villages do not have toilet facilities. There was a time in this country when health officials visited homes to ensure compliance with government health regulations. It is time governments at all levels stepped up efforts at enforcing sanitary habits in communities to prevent further outbreaks of deadly diseases such as cholera.