The federal government Monday said states and local governments should scale up environmental health surveillance in places where food and drinks are sold nationwide. It listed the places to include markets, garages, schools, restaurants, stadia, religious and sporting events venues. A statement in Abuja quoted the Minister of State for Environment, Dr Iziaq Salako, as giving the directive as part of measures to stem the tide of cholera in various parts of the country.
Salako urged all commissioners for environment and the local government chairpersons to support environmental health officers across the country to step up sanitation and hygiene activities through enhanced community-led total sanitation. He said” “It is also to strengthen collaboration with the health authorities and other stakeholders in line with the one health approach of the federal government.” The minister also stated that arrangements had been concluded to support most affected states with chlorine solution or tablets, water and food testing resources to avert further transmission across the country.
According to him, a recent situation report from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) indicated a total number of 1,159 suspected cases, 65 confirmed cases and 30 deaths across 30 States. Worst hit, according to the statement, are Bayelsa, Lagos, Zamfara, Abia, Bauchi, Cross River, Ebonyi, Delta and Katsina, all of whom had contributed 90 per cent of cases. The statement said: “The ministry.