The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said recurrent cholera outbreaks in Nigeria are critically affecting children and the population at large. This is as the Lagos State government on Saturday confirmed 17 cases of the disease out of 350 suspected cases in 29 wards in the state. This was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by UNICEF’s Chief of Lagos UNICEF Field Office, Celine Lafoucrier, in response to the cholera outbreak in Lagos and other parts of the country.
Lafoucrier said children faced substantial health risks, particularly those below the age of five, who were prone to severe dehydration and a higher mortality rate. She urged governments at all levels to focus on the provision of clean and risk-free water to prevent the spread of cholera in the country. According to her, despite the state government’s efforts to provide water to its population, the current outbreak has demonstrated the need for an urgent government focus on ensuring that the water provided to the population is clean and risk-free.
“Addressing the challenges of cholera outbreaks requires a deliberate focus of state policies. “And this includes the provision of high-standard water and sanitation facilities as well as strengthened healthcare systems capable of responding to demand in times of outbreaks. “There should be campaigns on cholera prevention to protect children and the population at large,” she said.
Lafoucrier said that good water and sanitation infrastructu.
