The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has raised the alarm that children face a very high risk in recurrent cholera outbreaks in Nigeria.
It added that the entire country’s population, too, was also vulnerable to the pandemic.
This is contained in a statement by the Chief of Lagos UNICEF Field Office, Celine Lafoucrier, on Saturday.
The statement is in response to the cholera outbreak in Lagos and other parts of the country.
Lafoucrier expressed worries that children faced substantial health risks, particularly those under five age who were prone to severe dehydration and higher mortality rate.
She said that the current outbreak required urgent government attention to provide a clean and risk-free water to the populace to prevent spread of cholera in the country.
“Addressing the challenges of cholera outbreaks require a deliberate focus of state policies. This include provision of high-standard water and sanitation facilities as well as strengthened healthcare systems capable of responding to the demand in times of outbreaks,” she said.
”There should be campaigns on cholera prevention to protect children and the population at large,” she added.
The UNICEF chief noted that good water and sanitation infrastructure played a crucial role in reducing disease outbreaks, such as cholera, which causes an estimated 100,000 deaths annually.
While outlining some preventive measures, Lafoucrier said:
“Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions are fundamental in preventing and responding to cholera epidemics
“Safe water supplies, hygienic sanitation and effective water management are key elements in this effort.
“Ultimately, preventing cholera centres on good sanitation and hygiene practices.
“Key actions include proper disposal of faeces, eliminating open defecation and ensuring access to potable water.
“Regular hand washing with clean, running water and soap is vital.
“Additionally, avoiding the consumption of uncooked vegetables, unwashed fruits, raw or undercooked seafood, and food from street vendors is important to reduce the risk of cholera infection.”
She added that safer water could annually prevent 1.4 million child deaths from diarrhoea, 500,000 deaths from malaria, and 860,000 child deaths from malnutrition.
According to her, it could also protect 10 million people from serious illnesses like lymphatic filariasis and trachoma.
Lafoucrier, however, said that disease outbreaks ultimately hindered Nigeria’s progress in achieving health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3, which focuses on ensuring healthy lives and well-being for all.
“These outbreaks strain Nigeria’s health system, diverting limited resources from essential services like routine immunizations, maternal and childcare, undermining universal health coverage,” she stressed.
“However, outbreaks also present opportunities to strengthen Nigeria’s health system.
“Prevention is more cost-effective than cure. Thus, communities should establish systems that promote key hygiene practices, transforming them into a cultural norm,” she said.
