The Federal Government has urged Nigerians to practice good personal and environmental hygiene to prevent the spread of cholera.
Mahmud Kambari, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Environment, made this statement on Saturday during the 2024 National Environmental Sanitation Day event in Piwoyi, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory.
National Environmental Sanitation Day is observed annually on June 28 to raise awareness about the importance of hygiene among Nigerians.
Kambari, represented by the Director of Pollution Control and Environmental Health, Olubunmi Olusanya, highlighted the need for increased awareness about sanitation to prevent diseases.
He pointed out that the current cholera outbreak is due to bacteria spread through contaminated water or food from poor hygiene practices. He stressed the importance of adopting good sanitation habits, such as avoiding open defecation, to combat cholera. He also mentioned the government’s commitment to partnering with communities to ensure cleanliness.
Open defecation is a major cause of cholera. It’s important to wash hands before eating and cook food thoroughly to prevent the disease. Good sanitation and hygiene practices can keep you disease-free.
Dr. Edwin Edeh from the World Health Organization urged landlords to include toilets in their houses to promote hygiene. He encouraged everyone in the community to wash their hands regularly.
Jonathan Duku from Breakthrough Action Nigeria emphasized the importance of keeping the environment clean to prevent cholera and Lassa fever, which is spread by rats in dirty surroundings.
The Etsu of Piwoyi community, Lazarus Bahago, praised the government and its partners for their awareness campaign and promised to ensure that residents adopt good sanitation practices.
