Lagos, Nigeria’s most populated and active commercial center, is currently grappling with a devastating Cholera outbreak. Despite its status as the most affluent city in the country, Lagos has emerged as a hotspot for this preventable disease, which is frequently linked to Poverty and poor sanitation. The state’s recent cholera outbreak has revealed serious Infrastructure and Public Health deficiencies, casting doubt on the city’s ability to properly handle medical emergencies. Health officials in the state announced the recent cholera outbreak early in June 2024 when over 300 suspected cases were reported.
Over 500 suspected cases and 43 confirmed cases were reported a few days later, with a reported case fatality rate of 5.4% for the suspected cases. As the disease swiftly spread through densely populated areas, health authorities reported hundreds of cases in a matter of weeks, mostly in communities with inadequate access to clean water and sanitary services. These statistics highlight how badly the disease has affected the city, further straining an already overburdened healthcare system. Cholera cases in Lagos have been on the rise in recent years, which is concerning. Historically, focused interventions and Education initiatives have helped to keep outbreaks largely under control.
259 suspected cases were reported in September.
However, the spread of the disease has become more difficult to prevent due to recent Urbanization and population expansion. High-density communities with inadequate Sanitation services have become cholera breeding grounds as cholera trends have shifted from isolated cases to more widespread outbreaks. In September alone, 259 suspected cases were reported in the state. There have been reports of 10,837 suspected cases from 36 states as of September 29, 2024, involving 359 fatalities (CFR 3.3%). Of the total suspected cases reported by the 36 states, Lagos accounted for 4,667 suspected cases, or 43% of all suspected cases nationwide.
Based on local government areas in the country, three LGA from Lagos; Lagos Island LGA (596 cases), Eti-Osa (576 cases) and Lagos Mainland (562 cases) are the three leading provinces with reported suspected cases in the country. While the NCDC has attributed the outbreak to inadequate personal and environmental hygiene, sanitation, and availability to clean water, it is important to recognize that growing food Inflation has played a major role in this disaster. Flooding, a frequent problem brought on by the city’s tropical climate, increases infection rates by dispersing garbage and untreated sewage into water sources.
State government has formed Rapid Response Teams.
To curb the spread of the disease, the Lagos State government has initiated a public health awareness campaign to enlighten citizens about safe water practices and good hygiene. Since June, the Emergency Operations Center has met every day, with participation from foreign organizations and line ministries. As part of its swift action, the state government formed Rapid Response Teams at the Local Government Area (LGA) level, which encompasses professionals in risk communication, WASH, and health. Also, the government also prepositioned cholera kits in 20 LGAs and 24 medical facilities.
Moreover, health officials have stepped up their efforts, concentrating on chlorinating water supplies and establishing makeshift treatment facilities in impacted areas. To assist Lagos in controlling the outbreak, the federal government has also contributed extra funds for aids like medical supplies and sanitary equipment. To support the overall Epidemic response across hotspots, World Health Organization (WHO) field volunteers and local government facilitators have been deployed since the outbreak began. This field volunteers were tasked with ensuring that local coordination is improved and that suspected cases of diseases that can be prevented by vaccination are promptly reported.
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With aid from partner organizations and the World Health Organization, health authorities are focusing on stopping community transmission and collaborating with community health outreach teams to ensure prevention and control measures, such as epidemiological interventions and public health education, are carried out successfully. Lagos has continuously topped Nigeria’s cholera reported cases chart, with more cases than any other state in recent years, regardless of the fact that other states, especially in the north, have also been hit by the disease.