In a tragic turn of events, a cholera outbreak in Ogun State has resulted in the loss of 12 lives within a span of one month, the state government confirmed.
The Ogun State Ministry of Health first sounded the alarm regarding the outbreak of cholera in the Ijebu North Local Government Area on September 17.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, revealed that the disease has since rapidly spread to the Abeokuta North and Abeokuta South Local Governments, with a staggering 217 cases reported solely in Ijebu North.
After an engagement with stakeholders at the ministry in Abeokuta, Dr Coker provided an update on the current situation.
“Regrettably, we have received reports of 246 cases, with a distressing death toll of 12 individuals, equating to a fatality rate of 44.6 percent,” Dr Coker announced.
“This percentage is alarmingly high for our educated state. Our investigation has revealed that the underlying cause of the cholera outbreak is the rampant practice of open defecation in Ogun State,” she further explained.
Dr Coker issued a stern warning to residents, urging them to refrain from open defecation and prioritize proper hygiene practices as a means to combat the disease.
She also emphasized that water sources have been contaminated by fecal matter due to open defecation.
As a response, the government has initiated the chlorination of wells in the Ijebu North area in order to restore normalcy and ensure safe drinking water for the population.
