Nigeria: NIMR suggests measures to prevent new cholera outbreaks

The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) in Lagos has presented a series of recommendations to avert new cholera outbreaks in the country during the forthcoming rainy season. NIMR researchers underlined the importance of personal and domestic hygiene, urging Nigerians to keep their environments clean, stop defecating in the open, and cook and store food cleanly and safely. However, they observed that the long-term solution for cholera prevention and control lies in access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation. They urged the government to promote measures that ensure access to clean and safe water and basic sanitation in communities.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) stated in its epidemiological report last October that there was a sharp and alarming increase in cholera cases in Nigeria during 2024. Talking about the issue, NIMR’s Director of Research, Professor Stella Smith, explained the links between poor sanitation, contaminated food, lack of access to safe water, and cholera outbreaks. Cholera is a waterborne disease, and its risk is higher in areas without sanitation facilities and a regular supply of clean water. Indiscriminate waste disposal or open defecation threatens the safety of water used for drinking or personal use. According to Smith, Nigerians still engaging in unsafe practices like open defecation can contribute to the spread of cholera during the rainy season. She identified Kano, Bauchi, Kaduna, Abia, Ebonyi, Rivers, and Lagos as cholera hotspots. Without adequate measures like access to clean and safe water, Nigeria will continue to be at risk of cholera outbreaks with widespread deaths and suffering.
Besides cholera, Smith also talked about the need for the media to raise awareness about Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). It is a pathogen responsible for peptic ulcer infections and its incidence is quite high in Nigeria due to a lack of awareness and misdiagnosis. Symptoms of infection include stomach pain, nausea, and bloating. Treatment is based on a combination of antisecretory drugs and antibiotics. Smith remarked that an accurate and prompt diagnosis is key to managing and treating the disease. She also called for research funding and grants to raise awareness about the condition.