News

Cholera Outbreak: See the Numbers of Cases Reported at Kirikiri Correctional Centre in Lagos

Published by Tope Fakinlede on June 30th, 2024.

Cholera Outbreak: See the Numbers of Cases Reported at Kirikiri Correctional Centre in Lagos

Prisoners

Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, announced that 25 cases of severe gastroenteritis, confirmed to be cholera, were reported at Kirikiri Correctional Centre.

Cholera image

This information was released in a statement on Sunday by the State Ministry of Health’s Director of Public Affairs, Tunbosun Ogunbanwo.

Prof. Abayomi stated that prompt medical and environmental interventions have been successfully implemented to address the outbreak.

Providing an update on the situation following a strategic “One Health” inter-governmental meeting over the weekend, Abayomi noted that no new cholera-related deaths have occurred in the past 72 hours. The government continues to intensify efforts to halt transmission.

Despite a decrease in new cases and deaths, there is still evidence of ongoing low-grade community transmission, according to Abayomi.

The interventions have started to show positive results as residents adhere to public health advice and seek medical attention early when symptoms appear. However, he reported a small outbreak of 25 cases of severe gastroenteritis at Kirikiri Medium Security Prison, which was confirmed to be caused by cholera. Urgent medical and environmental measures have been effectively implemented.

“We supplied Kirikiri Medium Prison with intravenous fluids, infection prevention supplies, and other health consumables. The World Health Organization donated 10,000 doses of pharmaceuticals to support the prison’s health facilities for approximately 3,200 inmates. Immediate water and sanitation issues have been addressed, and other correctional facilities in the state are undergoing inspections,” the commissioner said.

Abayomi identified unregulated street beverages and contaminated water supplies as the sources of the original outbreak two weeks ago. Samples from popular street beverages, collected by undercover environmental officers, confirmed the presence of Vibrio cholera bacteria.

“None of the containers had NAFDAC accreditation numbers, indicating they are from informal production units. Identifying the exact locations of these manufacturers has been challenging, but the Directorate of Environmental Health plans to shut down any unregulated production sites and arrest those involved,” Abayomi stated.

The state government, in collaboration with the Lagos Water Corporation and sanitation agencies (LAWMA and LASWAMO), is enforcing environmental health measures, including widespread sanitation activities and inspection and disinfection of boreholes.

Prof. Abayomi urged the public to ensure personal safety by consuming safe water, food, and beverages, maintaining good hygiene, starting oral rehydration therapy, and seeking immediate medical attention if symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting develop. He emphasized that treatment for suspected cholera is free at all

government hospitals.