The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday, July 1, donated pharmaceuticals to help treat and prevent the spread of a cholera outbreak at Kirikiri prison.
Professor Akin Abayomi, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, announced the additional support while providing an update on the outbreak in the state.
He said that the state provided intravenous fluids, infection prevention supplies, and other health consumables to Kirikiri Medium Prison.
“Additionally, WHO has donated 10,000 doses of pharmaceuticals which have been delivered to the prison to support prison health facilities with prevention strategies for about 3,200 inmates if required.
“Immediate water and sanitation issues have been corrected, and there are ongoing inspections of other correctional facilities in the state,” he said.
Abayomi revealed that the cholera outbreak in Lagos was traced to unregulated street beverages and contaminated water.
He noted a significant improvement in daily cholera cases since the spike two weeks ago, though low-grade community transmission persists with some cases still reported in hospitals.
He said: “No new cholera-related deaths have occurred in the past 72 hours. The government is intensifying efforts to eliminate transmission, with interventions showing positive results.”
The commissioner emphasised the importance of following public health advice, seeking prompt medical care when symptoms arise, and adhering to safety measures.
He noted that the state government is using an interagency “One Health” approach, implementing environmental health measures with the Lagos Water Corporation and sanitation agencies.
These measures, he said, include “widespread sanitation efforts, inspection and disinfection of boreholes, provision of safe drinking water to affected local governments, and enforcement of stricter regulations on local beverage manufacturers.
“Henceforth and as approved by Mr Governor, a higher sanitary and regulatory standard of eateries, food handlers, beverage manufacturers and groundwater will be implemented and enforced to curb the burden of food and water-borne diseases in Lagos,” he said.
The commissioner assured the public that there was no cause for panic and expressed confidence in the state’s ability to control the cholera spread through ongoing collaboration and vigilance from all stakeholders.