The Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu, has confirmed a death toll of 74 from the current cholera outbreak in some parts of the country.
He also disclosed that the outbreak which has been recorded in Plateau, Sokoto, Zamfara and Lagos States in the last one week has affected no fewer than 373 people.
Speaking on Monday at the “2013 Physicians Week” with the theme: “Federalism and Nigeria’s Healthcare system-An appraisal of the Primary and Secondary healthcare systems” organisedc by the Nigerian Medical Association.
The Minister enjoined Nigerians to take the issue of sanitation with the deserved seriousness. He said “As at yesterday (Sunday), 373 Nigerians have been recorded having suffered cholera in this current outbreak out of which we have lost 74. We still got a report just yesterday (Sunday) that few of the cases can do with antibiotic.
“Each Nigerian must commit to certain things; can we stop going into the bush to defecate; open defecation is not neglected but every Nigerian must know that it is unhealthy. Even market people are paying N5:00 to use toilets in the market place and that is what they do outside this country.
“My role as the Minister of Health is limited; as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I will continue to advocate that every sector keys into what each sector should do and individuals should preach to every Nigerian to do proper things in terms of sanitation.”
He advised Nigerians must do everything to stop open defecation and have access to clean water, adding that “Another thing is water supply which is a multi-state and multi-sectoral issue. The Federal, State and Local Government is involved in water supply and we must continue to insist that every Nigerian should have access to clean and portable water.
“In the hands of individual, it is all about personal hygiene. What now leads to the rapid transmission of cholera is lack of personal hygiene, like people not washing hands after defecating; even after urinating please wash your hands.
“Also wash your hands before eating as you might have had a handshake with people and remember that certain things you eat raw like carrot and other fruits should be properly washed. These basic things will ensure that we no longer have cholera in Nigeria.”
