The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Jide Idris, has said a total of 2,102 suspected cholera cases and 63 deaths have been recorded across 33 states and 122 local government areas in the country.
Idris stated this in Abuja, on Tuesday while giving an update on the campaign against the cholera outbreak as the National Youth Service Corps introduced strict camp guidelines with the commencement of the 2024 Batch B Stream ‘I’ orientation course.
The orientation course runs for 21 days, equipping, and training the eligible participants of the one-year mandatory service.
To ensure a successful programme, the Director-General of the NYSC, Brig. Gen. Yushau Ahmed has issued strict instructions to camp coordinators and officials to prevent the outbreak of cholera in orientation camps nationwide.
Cholera, a highly contagious food and waterborne disease, is caused by the ingestion of the organism, Vibrio Cholerae, in contaminated water and food.
Nigeria is experiencing a significant cholera outbreak, with the cases increasing from over 1,579 suspected cases and 54 deaths in 32 states to 2,102 cases and 63 deaths in 33 states within one week.
The outbreak has notably affected Lagos, Bayelsa, Zamfara, Abia, Cross River, Bauchi, Delta, Katsina, Imo, and Nasarawa.
In line with the directives from the DG, the Gombe State NYSC office has commenced a sensitisation programme for corps members in their Amada camp.
No fewer than 1,340 Batch B Stream I corps members, comprising 701 males and 639 females, were administered the oath of allegiance during the inauguration of the camp on Tuesday.
The Gombe State NYSC Head of Press and Public Relations Officer, Jennifer Laha, affirmed the NYSC’s commitment to ensuring good hygiene in the camps, adding that the necessary measures had been put in place to protect the corps members.
She said, “Daily sensitisation on personal and environmental hygiene, banners on prevention of cholera at strategic points, wash hand containers for thorough and regular use with waste baskets for disposal have been provided.”
The Sokoto State Coordinator of the scheme, Alhaji Usman Yakubu-Yaro, explained that proper arrangements were in place to curtail the spread of cholera in the state’s orientation camp
The NYSC, he said, was collaborating with the state ministry of health and NCDC officials to ensure a safe orientation programme.
Yakubu-Yaro added that consumables and people were being screened at the camp.
“We also equipped the camp health post with relevant medication for prompt response in case of emergency. All the food vendors are being screened to ensure they sell cholera-free food and drinks to the corps members while the NYSC kitchen has been mandated to prioritise hygiene.”
Similarly, the Benue State NYSC Information Officer, Mrs Victoria Ogwuche, said food vendors were screened and educated on hygiene before the camp, located in Wannue in the Tarka Local Government Area of the state, opened.
She reeled out several measures taken to make the camp resistant to the disease, including the provision of hand-washing basins and jingles to create awareness.
“We have put necessary measures in place before the camp opened. For instance, all the food vendors were thoroughly screened and put to a cholera test before coming to camp. Also, we have provided hand-washing basins all around the camp. We have also done jingles to create awareness for corps members. During morning meditation, we also educate them about the disease,’’ Ogwuche hinted.
Giving specific examples of what had been done, the Kwara State Coordinator of the NYSC, Mr Onifade Olaoluwa, mentioned that the state orientation camp in Yikpata in the Edu LGA had been fumigated to fortify the camp against the outbreak of any disease.
Speaking with The PUNCH on Tuesday, Onifade said that the state was fully prepared for the 2024 Batch B, Stream 1 orientation course.
He said that about 1,700 Corps members had reported to the camp for the 21-day exercise.
Onifade said, “We have assured the new corps members that adequate preparations have been made at the orientation camp. The camp has been properly cleared and fumigated against insects and reptiles.
“In view of the recent cholera outbreak in some parts of the country, the NYSC management is not leaving any stone unturned in having an epidemic-free camp. Adequate preventive measures have been put in place to prevent any outbreak in our camps.’’
