In light of the escalating cholera crisis in Nigeria, environmental and public health advocate Jennifer Akatu has called for immediate and thorough action to address the country’s inadequate solid waste management and sanitation challenges.
As a Nguvu Change Leader, Akatu emphasized the need for enhanced infrastructure in waste management, which includes improved refuse disposal systems, the upkeep of sewage pipes, and the establishment of effective drainage systems.
In a statement shared with Naijatraffic, the environmentalist asserted that systemic change is urgently required to manage the cholera outbreak and avert future health emergencies.
According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, from January 1 to July 15, 2024, the country recorded 3,623 suspected cholera cases and 103 fatalities across 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The outbreak has affected 187 local government areas, with a cumulative case fatality rate of 2.8 percent since the beginning of the year.
Dr. Jide Idris, the Director-General of the NCDC, highlighted that the most affected demographic is children around five years old, with males comprising 52 percent of the cases and females making up the remaining portion. He also reported a 5.6 percent decrease in the number of cases during the week of July 8 to July 14 compared to the previous week.
In her statement, Akatu stressed the essential role of solid waste management and sanitation in addressing this health crisis.
She asserted that the government should adopt a comprehensive approach to waste management that engages not just government agencies but also local communities.
She highlighted the significance of raising awareness about sanitation issues and the risks associated with open defecation.
Additionally, she revealed that she had submitted an online petition to draw attention to the serious shortcomings in sanitation systems within the Federal Capital Territory.
Her petition emphasizes the alarming conditions in neighborhoods such as Nyanyan, Karimo, and Gishiri, where insufficient waste disposal systems and faulty sanitation infrastructure have facilitated the spread of disease.
She stated, “My petition in a way presaged the current cholera outbreak and I believe, the authorities can do much more to tackle it, especially in the peri-urban areas within the FCT. Areas such as Nyanyan, Karimo, Gishiri, and other suburbs lack good waste disposal management systems.
“They suffer from broken sanitation systems, open defecation, poor refuse disposal, broken sewage pipes, and inadequate drainage systems. These are breeding grounds for diseases, and responsible bodies have not consistently taken action to improve the situation; rather, they focus more on the municipal areas.”
She emphasized that tackling open defecation and other sanitation issues requires community involvement in addition to government efforts.
“This problem cannot be solved by the government alone. Awareness should be raised at the community level and laws put in place to punish offenders. The authorities of the FCT should engage with residents and diverse stakeholders to reach a consensus on how issues about disease outbreaks, waste management, and pollution can be tackled for the benefit of all,” she stated.
