කොළරාව නයිජීරියාවේ යළි හිස ඔසවයි

Nigeria's cholera crisis worsens amid rainy season

As the rainy season intensifies in Nigeria, the ongoing cholera outbreak in Africa's most populous country has triggered widespread concerns among local residents.

At least 30 deaths from cholera have been reported so far this year in the country, said the Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), adding a total of 65 confirmed cases out of 1,141 suspected cases of cholera have been reported across 96 local government areas in 30 states from the onset in January.

In central Nigeria's Benue State, resident Abubakar Pine, whose primary water source had always been the local River Benue, the major tributary of the Niger River, has recently learned that the water resource is now unsafe.

"I was vomiting and purging. The following day, I discovered myself in the hospital. After the test, they brought out a result of cholera," he recalled.

Cholera is a highly virulent disease characterized in its most severe form by a sudden onset of acute watery diarrhea that can lead to death by severe dehydration.

Modern sewage and water treatment have virtually eliminated cholera in developed countries. However, the absence of these essential facilities in many regions of Nigeria poses a significant concern, particularly during heavy rainfall.

Healthcare workers say poor sanitation, hygiene practices and indiscriminate refuse dumps can also help spread the disease.

"It survives in a dirty environment. During the rainy season, dirt can accumulate in some places because of the erosion or the bushes around," explained Simon Nzuul, a healthcare practitioner.

The government and the NCDC say they are intensifying efforts to tackle the disease through case management and water sanitation initiatives.

"It will be important for the government to prioritize provision of safe, clean and potable pipe-borne water, because it can actually reduce hospital attendance by more than 50% for all forms of diseases," said Terkaa Bito, a public health physician.

Experts say that until better water-treatment infrastructure is in place, community education is key to minimizing the spread of cholera. They recommend frequent hand washing, safe drinking water, and good hygiene practices.

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