Nigeria is moving close to a major cholera outbreak if urgent sanitary measures are not put in place at the Internal Displaced Camps in the North-east, the Norwegian Refugee Council, NRC, has warned.
The Non-Governmental Organisation in a statement made available to PREMIUM TIMES, Monday, warned that if urgent actions are not taken, the overcrowded camps, coupled with the shortage of sanitation and hygiene facilities will cause another cholera outbreak in the country.
The region since 2009 has been under siege due to the activities of the Boko Haram insurgents who are seeking an independent Islamic state.
The insecurity has displaced over two million people. The majority of the population who fled from their homes are living in highly congested displacement sites which are well below international minimum standards.
They also lack access to basic amenities including water and latrines. This led to a major cholera outbreak last year.
Last year, Nigeria recorded at least 10,000 cases of cholera and 175 deaths from the IDP camps, although the actual number could be higher.
Cholera is a waterborne bacterial disease that is caused by ingesting contaminated water or food. It causes diarrhoea and dehydration, which may be deadly if not treated immediately.
Safe and protected water sources and proper sanitation facilities are critical to prevent it from spreading.
Over the years, Nigeria especially the North-Eastern part of the country has been affected by cholera on a yearly basis. The incident in the region has tripled due to the violence in 2018 forcing over scores of people to flee to the displacement camps.
NRC has warned that if care is not taken, “this year the epidemic, could spread even more rapidly as a wave of forced displacement has led to the overcrowding of camps.”
