The Ogun State government has confirmed one fatality and recorded nine new cases in a recent cholera outbreak across the state. Dr. Tomi Coker, the State Commissioner for Health, disclosed this during a press briefing in Abeokuta on Monday.
Coker informed journalists that there are currently 25 suspected cases spread across seven Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state. She noted that while the Federal Government has provided technical support to manage the outbreak, cholera vaccines are currently unavailable in the state.
She urged residents to strictly adhere to precautionary measures to contain the disease, emphasizing the importance of personal hygiene, safe food handling practices, and consuming clean water.
“To curb the spread, the government has distributed cholera test kits and treatment supplies to all LGAs and designated treatment centers,” Coker stated. She highlighted ongoing efforts to construct public toilets across the state to discourage open defecation in high-risk areas.
Coker reassured the public that cholera treatment is free at all government health facilities in the state and encouraged prompt reporting of any suspected cases.
The commissioner underscored the severity of the cholera situation nationwide, noting that Ogun State is taking proactive measures compared to many other states.
“To support our response, the state Epidemiology unit is on high alert, with intensified surveillance by disease surveillance officers across all 20 LGAs,” Coker added.
She concluded by urging the public to prioritize hand hygiene, thoroughly cook food, and seek medical attention if experiencing persistent watery stools.
Meanwhile, Mr. Ola Oresanya, the Commissioner for Environment, emphasized the state’s initiative to construct 100 public toilets and mandated public establishments like eateries and malls to make their facilities available to prevent open defecation.
The state government appealed for cooperation from all stakeholders in combating the cholera outbreak and ensuring public health safety across Ogun State.
