Hospitals In Ijebu-Igbo Call For Sensitization on Cholera As Death Toll Rises

By Kazeem Precious

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), on June 13th, alerted the public to increasing cholera cases nationwide, with 30 deaths, 1,141 suspected cases, and 65 confirmed cases reported. Disclosing this in a public advisory, the Director-General of the Centre, Dr. Jide Idris, said the cases that occurred between January and June 11, 2024, were reported from 96 LGAs in 30 states.

On July 4th, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Terlumum, while raising concerns, said a total of 63 deaths and 2,102 suspected cases had already been recorded as of Wednesday, July 3, 2024, since the outbreak of the epidemic.

Cholera is a bacterial infection of the intestines caused by the Vibrio cholerae bacterium (a bacteria that produces toxins and causes cholera, a potentially fatal diarrheal disease). People can get cholera by drinking water or eating food contaminated with the bacteria. The bacteria is often passed through the feces of an infected person, and cholera can spread quickly in areas with poor sanitation and inadequate sewage and drinking water treatment.

As Nigeria grapples with this epidemic, medical experts in Ijebu Igbo have called for sensitization to curtail the spread of the disease. According to them, no concrete efforts have been made by the government to raise awareness about cholera in Ijebu Igbo.

Doctor Olayiwola Odukoya from the Ijebu Igbo General Hospital, while emphasizing the need for sensitization on cholera, called for the government to organize a healthcare program in different towns of the community to educate citizens about the disease.

"We have not really seen any effort from the government, but we in our hospital normally educate people on things to do to stay away from cholera and how to identify a cholera patient. We advise the citizens of Ijebu Igbo to always take good care of their environment and the kind of food they eat, and they should be very careful. When they notice any symptoms or feel sick, they should always visit the hospital, not rely on home treatment all the time, and avoid staying close to someone who is affected.

"Water or food that has been contaminated can cause cholera. A dirty environment can also cause it. The government can inform the Ijebu Igbo citizens by organizing a healthcare program in some particular places around the town. They can also educate the kids in school and the elderly, and engage with community leaders to inform the people to always take good care of their community," he noted.

Speaking further on the issue, Nurse Akintayo Oluwakemi from Victory Hospital noted that no fewer than 22 patients have been treated in the past 6 months. While emphasizing the symptoms of cholera, she urged the Ogun government to provide access to clean water and ensure proper sanitation exercises are conducted regularly.

"When you want to notice the symptoms of cholera, the person's mouth will always be dry, and they will want to drink water frequently. The person will also have stomach pain and a rapid heartbeat. All these things may not affect the person at once; it will start from yellow eyeballs to a dry mouth.

"Yes, we have treated about 22 cholera patients in the past 6 months. We collect the excrement of the patient and examine it first, monitoring the stooling frequency and the dryness of the mouth. We administer IV fluids to replace lost fluids and Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) using potassium, sodium, and chloride. We also make sure the patient's environment is clean.

"The Ogun state government should help us get access to clean water. They should ensure and monitor sanitation regularly in Ijebu Igbo and also educate the citizens about this disease and how to stay away from it. They should provide good equipment for the hospitals and also employ adequately experienced doctors," she emphasized.