Cholera Outbreak: FG Advises Nigerians to Avoid Local Drinks Like Zobo and Fura
Written by Deborah Oyinloye on June 24, 2024
In an effort to curb the ongoing cholera outbreak, the Federal Government has advised Nigerians to refrain from consuming locally made drinks such as kunu, zobo, and fura.
The Minister of State for Environment, Iziaq Salako, issued this advisory in a statement from Abuja, urging the public to adopt stringent sanitation and hygiene practices both at home and in the workplace.
Salako emphasized the importance of preventive measures, including maintaining a clean environment and proper waste disposal. He stated, “Ensure the use of clean and safe water. Water from dubious sources should be thoroughly boiled or treated by adding chlorine solution.”
Salako also warned against the consumption of locally prepared beverages like kunu, zobo, and fura unless their preparation is verified to be hygienic and safe. He highlighted essential hygiene practices such as regular handwashing with soap under running water, especially after using the toilet, handling child waste, before cooking, before and after eating, and after contact with animals.
He called on state and local governments to boost environmental health surveillance in markets, garages, schools, restaurants, stadiums, and venues for religious and sporting events.
Salako noted that these measures are crucial to preventing the spread of cholera and controlling the disease. He urged environmental health officers to intensify sanitation and hygiene activities through community-led initiatives and to strengthen collaboration with health authorities.
The federal government has arranged to support the most affected states with chlorine solutions or tablets, and resources for water and food testing to prevent further transmission.
Recent data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) revealed 1,159 suspected cholera cases, 65 confirmed cases, and 30 deaths across 30 states. The most affected states, contributing 90% of the total cases, include Bayelsa, Lagos, Zamfara, Abia, Bauchi, Cross River, Ebonyi, Delta, and Katsina.
Salako explained, “Cholera is driven by poor sanitation and hygiene. It is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water.” He added that cholera remains a significant global health threat, affecting both children and adults, and can be fatal if not treated promptly. Symptoms can appear within 12 hours to five days and include frequent watery stools, nausea, and vomiting.
The cholera outbreak in Nigeria is often seasonal, peaking during the rainy season and exacerbated by poor sanitation. Climate events like flooding also contribute to the spread of the disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the current cholera outbreak as a “grade three public health emergency,” with Nigeria being one of 14 African countries experiencing a resurgence.
Salako assured that the Ministry of Environment, through the Department of Pollution Control and Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON), is actively working to contain the outbreak through environmental sanitation campaigns, water chlorination, and food testing.
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Author: Deborah Oyinloye
With an interest in media, Deborah aims to impart the lives of people positively.
