Cholera Outbreak in Lagos: Government Activates Emergency Operations Centre
With the recent outbreak of Cholera in Lagos, the state government has taken swift action by activating its Public Health Emergency Operations Centre at Mainland Hospital, Yaba. The United Nations Children’s Fund has also called on the Lagos State Government to provide high-standard water and sanitation facilities to communities to help curb the disease.
The state Ministry of Health has confirmed 350 suspected cases of cholera in 29 wards across multiple local government areas in Lagos, with 17 confirmed cases and 15 deaths. The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, emphasized the need for residents to strictly adhere to precautionary measures to prevent further spread of the disease.
UNICEF has urged the state government to strengthen its healthcare systems and ensure the availability of standard water to reduce fatality rates associated with cholera. The organization stressed the importance of a comprehensive approach, including sustainable WASH infrastructure, strengthened health systems, and effective community engagement strategies to halt transmission of the disease.