From Christiana Gokyo Jos
The Programme Coordinator of Plateau State Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) Program on the Prevention of Cholera outbreak in the State Engr. Jonathan Malann says the outbreak of Cholera has been recorded in 33 States of the country with no official case recorded in Plateau State as reported by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
He explained that Cholera is a severe diarrheal disease caused by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
Addressing Journalists during a Press conference in Jos on Tuesday said that cholera remains a significant threat to health, particularly in areas with inadequate water supply, sanitation, and hygiene.
” It is a highly contagious and potentially deadly disease, but it is also entirely preventable with the right measures, common sources of Cholera Infection Faecal contamination of drinking water at the source (unprotected wells, boreholes, standpipes), during transport or supply, or storage, for example, by contact with hands soiled by faeces. he stated.
According to him, uncooked food made with or washed with contaminated water, drinks made with contaminated water that is not later boiled, ice made with contaminated water; Cooking and eating utensils washed in contaminated water; Food contaminated during or after cooking or preparation and allowed to remain at room temperature for several hours provide an excellent environment for the growth of
cholerae.
He said that seafood, particularly crustaceans and other shellfish, are taken from contaminated water and eaten raw or insufficiently cooked or contaminated during preparation.
Also, fruits and vegetables grown at or near ground level and fertilised with night soil, irrigated with water containing human waste or rinsed with contaminated water, and then eaten raw, or contaminated during handling, washing and preparation.
Engr Malann noted that the state government has put in place efforts to control the spread of cholera outbreak in the state by multisectoral Coordination and the governments continued to work with multiple local and international stakeholders to ensure targeted and timely response activities.
While assuring that the multisectoral approach to the cholera outbreak response approach among others that is worth noting is the Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Hygiene (SURWASH) Program supported by the World Bank to the Government of Nigeria (GoN) through a facility of USD 700 million using bank financing instruments namely a Program for Results (PforR) component, and an Investment Project Financing (IPF) technical assistance component.
According to him, the Program is for six years in seven states starting from May 2021 to June 2027, which include: Ekiti, Delta, Gombe, Imo, Kaduna, Katsina and Plateau.
He explained that the Program introduces a results-based approach with the potential to propel Nigeria’s efforts to ensure that all its people have access to sustainable and safely managed Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services.
“It also introduces an innovative approach to sector programming that leverages incentives to simultaneously deliver infrastructure that works, policies that govern, and institutions that sustain.”
According to him, the Project Development Objectives (PDO) are to increase access to water, sanitation, and hygiene services; and to strengthen sector institutions in these selected states of Nigeria.
While emphasizing that the biggest stakeholders in cholera prevention and control are the general public and members of the Press, and the game changers in our efforts to create a cholera-free State, if each of us takes collective action and makes choices to treat our water.
“This should be through boiling or using chlorine, and washing our hands at critical times, before Cooking, Eating, and Breastfeeding, and after using the Toilet, and handling a child’s diaper. He stated
He stated that the early suspected cholera cases by the Ministry of Health which has the responsibility were in the Mangu local government area, adding that, during the incident, the Director of Disease Control, carried out an investigation which turned out to be negative.
Adding that further confirming the non-record status of the State, saying the earlier identification of cases has helped them to isolate patients thereby reducing the spread to others.
It also allows health workers to move into affected communities with specific preventive measures,
Procurement of water treatment chemicals for water supply agencies.
According to him, the present administration under Governor, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang has approved the procurement of bulk assorted water treatment chemicals for the state water supply agencies (Jos Water Services Corporation, Plateau Municipal Water Supply and Sanitation Agency and Plateau Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency).
Also, Plateau Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (PRUWASSA) are on hand to provide chlorine tablets, powdered chlorine and Water Guard to prevent water contamination in rural communities.
The Jos Water Services Corporation and the Plateau Municipal Water Supply and Sanitation Agency continue to ensure that all water supplied through pipelines is treated before distribution to households within the Greater Jos Area.
Access to Safe WaterAccess to safe drinking water for the general population is essential to reduce the spread of the disease in the State.
The Ministry of Water Resources and Energy and its Agencies have the mandate to ensure access to safe water supply in Plateau State and the Ministry also partners with the media (WASH media network) to deliver Water, Sanitation and Hygiene messages to the public to prevent cholera and other water-related diseases.
The Ministry through its Agencies has ensured that sanitation and hygiene workers and staff or volunteers working in the community are trained to teach local people about safe water treatment methods, including collection, transport, handling and storage.
He said, that under the Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Hygiene (SURWASH) Program, efforts are being made by the present administration to increase access to water supply services in the State.
This includes the rehabilitation of the Yelwa Water Treatment Plant and the extension of the Water Pipeline Distribution Network to about 11,000 beneficiaries in the Gyel community of Jos South LGA.
Rehabilitation of Water Treatment Plants in Bokkos, Langtang North, and upgrading of Wase Ground Water Works, to provide 30,000 beneficiaries in the above-mentioned LGAs.
Construction of 13 Isolated Water Schemes in Mangu, Bokkos, Langtang North, Wase and Jos South LGAs of the State towards increasing access to about 130,000 beneficiaries in the Local Government Areas.Construction of 50 Hand Pump Boreholes in 50 Communities in Bokkos, Langtang North, Wase and Jos South LGAs of the State towards increasing access to about 12,500 beneficiaries in the Local Government Areas.
Also the Construction of 90 Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Facilities in Primary Schools and Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in Mangu, Bokkos, Langtang North, Wase and Jos South LGAs of the State towards increasing access to WASH services in schools and PHCs towards increasing school enrolment and improving maternal and child care in the Local Government AreasHygiene and Access to Improved Sanitation
According to him, the Ministry through its Agencies has educated the public on hygiene promotion when handling water to reduce the risk of contamination. Improve access to sanitation facilities.
They also discourage open defecation and work with the community to ensure the safe disposal of excreta, involve the community in all phases of the design and implementation of on-site sanitation projects to ensure access to and use of the facilities.
They set up handwashing stations with soap and safe water near all latrines, and promote strong hygiene programmes to ensure the success of sanitation programmes, The Focus includes handwashing after defecation and after handling the faeces of a child. Ensure sanitation and hygiene officers are properly trained to teach local people about good hygiene practices and the links between sanitation, water supply, health and hygiene behaviours.
Under SURWASH, the program targets the construction of household latrines to improve access to basic sanitation. presently, 281,000 beneficiaries are being targeted by the end of the program.
Therefore there is a need for us to work collectively towards achieving a common goal for cholera in Plateau, the prevention of cholera and other water-borne diseases does not lie within the Water sector only,
but our people need access to adequate and affordable healthcare services.
While we put in immediate measures to prevent the current outbreak, he acknowledges that defeating cholera is not only about immediate responses but also about long-term solutions. Investment in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) is not just a necessity; it is our pathway to a cholera-free Plateau.
Together, we must work towards sustainable infrastructure that ensures safe water for all and If we do not act now to prevent cholera, the high costs of fighting cholera outbreaks will continue to restrain our ability to free up resources for development. he stated
“We continue to rally behind the Call to Action, “the time is now” to join our hands to prevent the spread of Cholera in the State, It must start with us.
He calls on the media to develop or use a prepared set of harmonized messages on the prevention of cholera, to create mass awareness and sensitization to the public.
According to him, the messages should adapt to local cultural beliefs about the disease and to the capacity for implementing control measures in the community (for example, if soap or chlorine are unavailable, recommend ash or lime for washing hands.
