The lawmaker representing Ikeja Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, James Faleke, has urged Nigerians to address the ongoing cholera outbreak with the same urgency and seriousness as the COVID-19 pandemic.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos State on Monday, Faleke emphasized the importance of public vigilance and hygiene.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control recently reported 53 cholera-related deaths in the country.
NCDC Director-General, Dr. Jide Idris, announced that the Federal Government had activated the National Emergency Operation Centre to combat the outbreak.
“As of June 24, 2024, 1,528 suspected cases and 53 deaths were recorded across 31 states and 107 LGAs with a case fatality rate of 3.5 per cent since the beginning of the year,” Idris said.
Faleke responded by calling on Nigerians to take more proactive measures to curb the outbreak.
“Every Nigerian needs to be careful, our attitude to cleanliness matters. The way we took COVID-19 seriously is the way we should take this cholera outbreak. Cholera has killed many people. We expected that, in this modern age, we should not be having an outbreak of cholera in Nigeria. However, it has come; so, we have to deal with it. People should be more careful with what they eat and drink. There are many fake products out there. Stop taking fake products. You don’t have to drink anything, take clean water,” he advised.
The Lagos State Government, through the Permanent Secretary of the Public Service Office, Sunkanmi Oyegbola, also urged public servants on Sunday to maintain good hygiene practices to prevent contracting cholera or other waterborne and airborne diseases.
