The Akwa Ibom State Government has reported a Cholera outbreak in the state in the fishing community of Emeroke in the Eastern Obolo Local Government Area. These cases reportedly showed symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting. The situation was confirmed by a statement from the Ministry of Health’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Patrick Essiet. He clarified that the state epidemiologist had already been dispatched to the town to start raising awareness about ways to lessen the outbreak. A secondary health institution has also been visited by health officials in order to ascertain the precise number of cases.
In a quick response, residents and the neighboring villages have been advised by the Ministry of Health to boil drinking water before drinking, wash their hands properly, especially after defecating, and seek medical attention right away at the closest health institution if they feel any symptoms of vomiting or diarrhea. Community leaders were also reminded by the Ministry to implement the government’s prohibition on open defecation. In the meantime, the Ministry is supplying the community with supplies while a long-term solution is developed. The public was encouraged to notify the Ministry of Health’s Director of Public Health of any suspected cholera cases.
Early 2025 outbreak adds to the disease toll in 2024.
This early 2025 outbreak in Akwa Ibom highlights the ongoing challenges Nigeria faces in fighting cholera and contributes to the growing concern about the spread of the waterborne illnesses, which experienced a resurgence in numerous parts of the nation in 2024. Akwa Ibom was among those with the least reported case overall nationwide as evidenced in the NCDC Cholera Situation Report Epidemiological week 39. While the state is still considered to be experiencing an “Active” outbreak, there were no new cases reported this week.
For the reported week, all 30 tests that were performed came up negative. From the start of 2024 to Epidemiological Week 39, the state only reported 30 cholera cases with no fatalities. However, the latest report has changed the narrative for the state. According to reports, the state’s most recent outbreak occurred in areas with poor access to sanitary facilities and safe drinking water. This circumstance mirrors the larger problems Nigeria faces, where the disease epidemics have become a yearly occurrence, made worse by problems with the environment and infrastructure.
Persistence of cholera outbreak reflects structural issues.
Throughout 2024, Nigeria experienced a cholera outbreak, especially in the north and southeast, which resulted in many fatalities and put a great deal of strain on the country’s healthcare system. Akwa Ibom’s outbreak adds to the growing toll of the disease, and highlights the ongoing lack of progress in the disease’s eradication. This recurring public health emergency is a reflection of broader structural problems, including limited access to clean drinking water, poor Sanitation systems, and inadequate healthcare facilities. These shortcomings have contributed to the ongoing occurrence of cholera epidemics in many regions of the nation, particularly in rural and informal urban populations.
While immediate responses to outbreaks, such as the provision of treatment and setting up cholera treatment centers, are essential in containing the spread, these measures alone have proven insufficient to break the cycle of recurring outbreaks. As Akwa Ibom grapples with this new wave of cholera in 2025, it is evident that the fight against the disease in Nigeria is far from over. These outbreaks’ recurrence emphasizes the necessity of ongoing efforts to address the root causes of water availability and sanitation on the part of the government and the international community.
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Emphasis needs to be placed on a comprehensive strategy that would address the underlying causes and create a more robust public health system that can successfully prevent and control outbreaks in the future. This underscores the urgent need for long-term fixes that go beyond emergency interventions, such as Infrastructure related to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). Nigeria must also improve Education and awareness initiatives to make sure that people know how to protect themselves from the disease and other avoidable diseases, as well as fortify its public health surveillance systems to identify and address epidemics faster.