Anxiety as cholera deaths hit 529 in Nigeria

The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control on Monday declared that Nigeria had entered a cholera season as the number of deaths hit 529.

The NCDC had on June 27, 2021 published a cholera situation report on its website where it was stated that no fewer than 16 states of the federation reported 14,343 suspected cases with 325 deaths recorded.

According to the report, some of the states include Bayelsa, Benue, Kogi, Sokoto, Gombe, Delta, Cross River, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Plateau, Bauchi, Kaduna, Zamfara, Kano, Niger and the FCT.

Findings by The PUNCH revealed that as of July 26, 2021, the cholera death toll in Nigeria increased by over 61 per cent within a three-week period, bringing the total number of deaths from 325 to 529 with states like Kaduna, Jigawa, Bauchi and the Federal Capital Territory accounting for most of the fatalities.

The Federal Capital Territory reported the highest spike in the number of deaths as death toll increased from two  60 in just three weeks, Kaduna moved from five to 33 deaths, while Jigawa reported a fresh death toll of 30

Bayelsa reported 25 deaths, Benue, 12; Kogi, 4; Sokoto, 86; Gombe, one; Kebbi, 1; Nasarawa 17; Plateau, 21; Bauchi, 42; Kano, 123; Niger, 10.

Reports from the NCDC website also stated that the country was having a shortfall of cholera vaccines, adding that the agency would work with relevant partners across the globe to secure vaccines.

As of July 26, 2021, only Bauchi State had access to the cholera vaccine which was donated by the World Health Organisation.

However, the Director of Surveillance and Epidemiology, Elsie Ilori, in a chat with journalists on Monday in Abuja said “This is the season for cholera and that is what is happening now. Before now, we have sensitised all the states, meteorologists also predicted floods and that should prepare the states.

“We are also working with the Ministry of Water Resources to make sure that wash practices are put in place. It is really unfortunate that we have those cases,but we are working with the states for a response so as not to make it spread further.” Punch