Cholera: Group mulls sensitization campaigns on clean environment, hygienic behaviour

  

As 30 states across the country are battling with cholera outbreaks, a group, Association of Humble and Obedient Youths (AHOY) says it has finalized plans to embark on a sensitization campaigns to educate the people on the imperative to maintain clean environment and imbibe hygienic behaviours.

The group in a statement signed by its President, Soetan Ayodele Oladimeji, at the weekend, in Abeokuta, the Ogun capital, noted that since cholera is majorly caused by unclean and poor hygiene, the humanitarian arm of AHOY will urgently commence the sensitization campaigns in some of the affected states to support the efforts of the government in halting the epidemic.

Soetan expressed serious concerns at the rate the disease has spread recently, particularly, in Lagos State where no fewer than 24 deaths had been recorded and 401 cases reported.

He noted that the announcement by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) that cholera was prevalent in 30 states of the federation was alarming, emphasizing that efforts must be geared towards arresting the situation before it spirals out of control.

He called on the Federal Government to increase its technical and medical support to states hit by cholera.

He also charged the governments of states affected by the epidemic to put measures in place and equip their hospitals to provide swift response to emergencies  as a result of the outbreak.

The group further urged the state governments to intensify sensitization campaigns on the imperative of clean and safe drinking water as well as maintaining hygienic environment, to prevent further spread of the disease.

Soetan, who bemoaned the dearth of potable water in some parts of the country, admonished state governments to make drinkable water available to the people and move seriously against open defecation.

While commiserating with the states, especially Lagos, that have recorded a high number of deaths because of cholera, he appealed to the people, particularly in the rural areas, to ensure that they drink safe water, cook food thoroughly, maintain personal hygiene, wash hands regularly, use sanitiser, and avoid over crowded places.

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