The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF has stressed the severe impact of recurrent cholera outbreaks on children and young populations in Lagos and across Nigeria.
Chief of Lagos field office for UNICEF, Celine Lafoucriere revealed this in a response to the recent cholera outbreak in Lagos. She said that children under five are particularly vulnerable, facing high risks of severe dehydration and mortality.
She noted:“Recurrent cholera outbreaks critically affect children and populations at large. These vulnerable groups face substantial health risks, particularly those under five who are prone to severe dehydration and higher mortality rates.”
According to her, beyond health issues, these outbreaks disrupt education, as illness and caregiving responsibilities force school closures and reduce attendance, impeding children’s learning and development.
Lafoucriere also underlined the urgent need for improved access to clean water and sanitation to combat these outbreaks and also called for a comprehensive approach, including the enhancement of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure, rapid surveillance, social mobilization, and the administration of oral cholera vaccines.
Emphasizing good sanitation and hygiene practices, she spotted actions such as proper disposal of feces, eliminating open defecation, ensuring access to potable water, and regular handwashing with soap and clean water.
“The current outbreak demonstrates the need for an urgent government focus on ensuring the water provided to the population is clean and risk-free. Addressing the challenges of cholera outbreaks requires a deliberate focus of state policies to provide high-standard water and sanitation facilities, as well as strengthened healthcare systems capable of responding to the demand in times of outbreaks.”
The UNICEF official also highlighted the broader role of robust water and sanitation infrastructure in reducing disease outbreaks.
She further stressed that safe water supplies, hygienic sanitation, and effective water management are crucial in preventing cholera and other diseases, which can hinder Nigeria’s progress towards health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Lafoucriere concluded that investing in these areas not only improves public health but also yields significant economic benefits, underscoring the importance of sustained efforts to protect and improve the well-being of Nigerian children and communities.
