LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)–The minority leader in the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda (PDP-Rivers), has called on the federal government to declare a state of emergency in response to the ongoing cholera outbreak in the country.
In a statement released on Saturday, Chinda emphasized the urgency of coordinated stakeholder action to address the outbreak and prevent further spread of the disease.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) recently reported that cholera has spread to 30 states across the federation.
Mr Chinda, therefore, stated that “the outbreak highlights critical deficiencies in public health safety measures and underscores the need for immediate action.”
He pointed out that inadequate investment in public and personal health education has significantly contributed to the spread of preventable diseases like cholera.
READ ALSO: WHO Declares Resurgence Of Cholera A Global Horror
He added that: “As schools across the nation resume from the recent public holidays, there is an urgent need to declare a state of emergency on cholera.
“This declaration will enable coordinated efforts at all levels of government to deploy resources swiftly towards containing the outbreak, improving sanitation infrastructure, and intensifying public health education campaigns.
“Governments at all levels must prioritise the allocation of resources towards improving water and sanitation facilities in affected communities.
“We call upon stakeholders, including government agencies, non-governmental organisations, community leaders and individuals, to collaborate in combating this outbreak.”
The lawmaker emphasized that investing in robust public health education programs is essential for raising awareness about hygiene practices that can prevent the spread of water-borne diseases, including cholera.
Chinda advised the public to remain calm and vigilant, practice good hygiene, and seek prompt medical attention if they experience symptoms associated with cholera.